Baldur's Gate 3 on Windows 7 workaround 2025

[TSNH]

Tested on version 4.1.1.6758295

Baldur's Gate 3 is a game that is oficially supported by it's developers only on Windows 10. There are both Steram and GOG versions available, but I would advise against buying it on Steam since the steam client may stop working on Windows 7 at any time, while GOG game releases are DRM-free and have offline installers available so you aren't going to lose the ability to play.

This game comes is two variants bg3.exe (Vulkan based) and bg3_dx11.exe (DirextX 11 based).

You probably want to be using the Vulkan version as dx11 one has a broken map (and minimap)

To run the Vulkan version you need a pretty recent video driver:

Nvidia: for example version 471 will be fine

AMD: not tested

 

Required for patch 8 v4.1.1.6758295 :

This part is for the current version v4.1.1.6758295 (this is patch8) Patch 7 v4.1.1.6072089 does not require this, Patch 6 v4.1.1.5022896 requires a different workaround, see spoiler

1. Download CFF Explorer (part of Explorer Suite)

2. Find bg3.exe and open it in CFF Explorer

3. On the left panel go to Import Directory then find PlayFabServices.Win32.dll, PlayFabCore.Win32.dll and PartyWin.dll under module name

4. Right-click and click Delete Import Descriptor for PlayFabServices.Win32.dll, PlayFabCore.Win32.dll and PartyWin.dll

I think cross-platform play may not work if you remove PlayFab, but looking at it's website https://playfab.com/ this PlayFAB is likely to contain Microsoft's spyware and you may not want it anyway of you are on Windows 7

5. Save the file as bg3_win7.exe or whatever

For All versions of Baldur's Gate :

6. When launching the game's exe always hold the Shift key (not needed for Windows 8.0 and 8.1)

7. Congratulations, Launch bg3.exe (I mean your modified one here) in the bin directory (don't even bother with a crappy Larian launcher)

 

 

patch 6 v4.1.1.5022896

On Windows 8.0 and Windows 8.1 the game works out of the box and you just have to launch bg3.exe in the bin directory (don't even bother with a crappy Larian launcher)

On Windows 7 you have to follow these steps:

1. Download CFF Explorer (part of Explorer Suite)

2. Find bg3.exe and open it in CFF Explorer

3. On the left panel go to Import Directory then find kernel32 under module name

4. Replace a function called GetOverlappedResultEx with GetOverlappedResult (just rename)

5. Save the file as bg3_win7.exe or whatever

Edited April 19 by TSNH
new version

[TSNH]

Update: Larian Studios has dropped a new update to BG3! I've just updated this guide with a new workaround regarding the Win7-incompatible PlayFAB component.

According to the developers it's the last main development update so there is a big chance that BG3 will be kept compatible with Windows 7 for years to come