Pillars of Eternity is 10 years old. The classic isometric RPG launched in 2015 and became an instant favorite among CRPG enthusiasts who’d been waiting for games like this to return. Then life moved on. The game got a sequel in Deadfire (which included a turn-based mode), and Obsidian moved on to other projects including Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and Grounded 2. Meanwhile, the original Pillars of Eternity sat with its real-time-with-pause combat, a masterpiece that many secretly wished had a turn-based alternative. Then, on November 5, 2025, Obsidian did something extraordinary: they went back 10 years and added what players had been requesting since Deadfire proved turn-based combat worked. The public beta for Pillars of Eternity’s turn-based mode is now live, and it represents one of gaming’s most delightful surprises.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
When Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire released in 2018, it included an optional turn-based mode that took the community by surprise. Finally, players could experience Eora’s world with the tactical precision turn-based combat offers. The mode was popular enough that the community has been asking for it in the original Pillars ever since. For seven years, fans requested it. For seven years, Obsidian had other priorities. Now, suddenly, it’s here.
This is remarkable because 10-year-old games don’t typically receive major new features. They get maintenance patches, maybe security updates, but not fundamental gameplay overhauls. The fact that Obsidian is dedicating resources to adding turn-based mode to Pillars of Eternity demonstrates unusual commitment to legacy support. Josh Sawyer, the game’s director, explicitly stated that Deadfire’s turn-based mode was so well-received that they wanted to implement it in the original with improvements based on years of player feedback.
How This Turn-Based Mode Works
This isn’t just Deadfire’s turn-based mode copy-pasted into the first game. Obsidian rebuilt the entire system specifically for Pillars of Eternity’s mechanics and balance. According to Sawyer and the development team, the key improvements include:
Unbound Turns mean all turns are now influenced by a character’s overall speed attribute, which improves the value of speed-based mechanics that were designed for real-time combat. In the original real-time-with-pause system, speed mattered for initiative and attack frequency. Now, in turn-based mode, speed directly affects how often characters get turns, making those stat investments actually matter in a turn-based context.
Smarter Free Actions mean that weapon swaps, potion drinking, enabling modal abilities, and similar quick actions are now free actions that don’t consume your turn. However, each type of free action is limited to once per turn per type, preventing abuse. You can’t spam 10 weapon swaps and then take your actual turn – you get one swap and your turn proceeds normally.
Combat Lethality has been significantly increased for both enemies and players. Real-time combat in Pillars could drag on forever with neither side dying. Turn-based mode would drag on even longer with the same numbers. By increasing damage across the board, Obsidian ensures battles resolve quickly enough that turn-based doesn’t become a tedious grind.
The Holy Grail: Mode Switching
Here’s where Obsidian’s implementation truly shines. Players can select turn-based mode when creating a new character, similar to difficulty selection. But more importantly, they can switch between real-time-with-pause and turn-based modes freely in the game options. If you encounter a boss that feels better in real-time? Switch. If a dungeon crawl would be easier in turn-based? Switch back. That flexibility transforms the feature from a gimmick into a genuine accessibility and gameplay tool.
Obsidian is even investigating adding a direct HUD toggle for instant mode switching without opening menus, though that’s still being tested. The goal is making it so seamless that players forget they’re choosing between systems and just play however feels right in each moment.
The Public Beta Process
The turn-based mode launched as a public beta on PC via Steam and Xbox on PC on November 5, 2025. This isn’t a limited preview – Obsidian is encouraging wide participation and collecting extensive feedback. The beta will run for “some time” as Obsidian makes incremental updates based on community reports and suggestions.
To opt into the beta, players access Pillars of Eternity’s properties in Steam, go to the Beta tab, and select “public_beta” from the dropdown. Console access isn’t available during the beta phase, though that could change. The game world setting of Eora remains unchanged – this is purely a combat system transformation.
Josh Sawyer’s involvement in the design process signals how seriously Obsidian is taking this. Sawyer, the game’s director, didn’t just rubber-stamp the feature. He directly contributed to the design philosophy and recorded explanatory videos walking players through what changed and why. That level of creative leadership suggests this isn’t a cash grab or marketing stunt – it’s Obsidian genuinely trying to honor a beloved game.
Why Obsidian Did This Now
Pillars of Eternity celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. Obsidian had a massive year – releasing Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and supporting Grounded 2 in early access. The studio could have simply ignored the original Pillars. Instead, they chose to revisit it as a 10th-anniversary gift to the community.
That decision reflects something deeper about Obsidian’s corporate culture under Microsoft ownership. The studio has resources and creative freedom to support legacy titles in ways most studios simply can’t afford. They’re not being forced to update Pillars – they’re choosing to because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
FAQs
When did the Pillars of Eternity turn-based mode beta launch?
The public beta launched on November 5, 2025 for PC via Steam and Xbox on PC. Console versions (PlayStation, Xbox console) are not part of the current beta.
How do I access the beta?
In your Steam Library, right-click Pillars of Eternity, select “Properties,” go to the “Beta” tab, and select “public_beta” from the dropdown menu. The game will download the beta build automatically.
Is this the same as Deadfire’s turn-based mode?
No, Obsidian rebuilt the system specifically for Pillars of Eternity with improvements based on years of Deadfire feedback. Changes include unbound turns based on speed, smarter free actions, and increased combat lethality.
Can I switch between real-time and turn-based during a playthrough?
Yes, you can switch freely between real-time-with-pause and turn-based modes in the game options at any time. You can also select turn-based mode when creating a new character.
When will the full release happen?
Obsidian hasn’t announced a specific full release date. The beta will run for “some time” as they collect feedback and make improvements, with a full release coming later.
Will console versions get turn-based mode?
Console versions are not part of the current beta. Obsidian hasn’t confirmed whether they’ll receive the feature, though it seems likely eventually given the PC implementation.
Do I need to restart my playthrough to use turn-based mode?
You can enable it in the game options at any time, so existing saves can switch to turn-based mode. However, you can also select it when creating a new character.
What’s different about free actions in this turn-based mode?
Weapon swaps, potion drinking, modal ability toggles, and similar actions are free and don’t consume your turn. However, each type of free action is limited to once per turn per type to prevent abuse.
How does speed attribute work in turn-based mode?
Speed now affects turn frequency directly. Characters with higher speed get more turns. This makes speed-based mechanics valuable in turn-based mode, unlike some adaptations where speed becomes meaningless.
Is combat more lethal in turn-based mode?
Yes, damage output is significantly increased to prevent turn-based encounters from dragging on too long. Battles resolve faster than they would with the same damage in real-time.
Can I expect bugs in the public beta?
Yes, Obsidian explicitly states to expect bugs in the public beta. That’s why they’re collecting extensive feedback – they need community reports to identify and fix issues before full release.
Conclusion
Pillars of Eternity’s turn-based mode public beta represents something rare in modern gaming: a 10-year-old game receiving a major new feature not for profit, but because the developers think it’s the right thing to do. Obsidian could have moved on to whatever comes next. Instead, they honored the players who’ve loved Pillars for a decade by finally answering their most consistent request. The implementation is thoughtful, with Sawyer’s direction ensuring the system works with Pillars’ mechanics rather than against them. For CRPG fans, November 5, 2025 marks a day when one of the genre’s finest games suddenly got a new reason to replay it. The public beta is live, the feedback mechanisms are ready, and Obsidian is genuinely listening. That’s a love letter to legacy gaming that most studios would never write.