Pillars of Eternity

Pillars of Eternity is a single-player RPG with a freely assembled party of heroes. Obsidian Entertainment sets the adventures in the fantasy world of Eora. You explore cities, dungeons and wilderness areas, resolve conflicts through conversation or combat, and learn why souls and memories change the people of this world.

The game is played from an isometric perspective. The story reacts to your decisions and to the party's reputation with various factions.

The PC version was released on March 26, 2015. The Complete Edition followed on August 29, 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Since August 8, 2019, there is also a Nintendo Switch version.

On April 6, 2026, the PC version also received a full turn-based mode. The two major expansions The White March were already released in 2015 and 2016.

Pillars of Eternity was released natively for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. On PC, Windows, macOS and Linux are supported. The console versions carry the Complete Edition label and include both parts of The White March.

Xbox Series or PS5 backward compatibility does not turn the older console versions into new native releases.

The journey combines exploration with long dialogues and tactical encounters. You discover hidden places, search for equipment and often decide for yourself whether to tackle problems with knowledge, persuasion, stealth or force.

Your choices shape relationships with companions and factions. Skills such as Mechanics, Athletics and Survival also help outside of combat.

The White March – Part I was released on August 25, 2015, Part II on February 16, 2016. Both expand the world with snowy regions, additional quests, equipment and new companions. The second part concludes the expansion's story.

The Complete Edition for consoles bundles the base game and both chapters. On PC, the expansions can also be purchased via the Expansion Pass.

Minimum on Windows: 4 GB RAM, an Intel Core i3-2100T or AMD Phenom II X3 B73, and 14 GB of storage. Steam lists a Radeon HD 4850 or GeForce 9600 GT as the graphics card.

Recommended: 8 GB RAM, an Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD Phenom II X6 1100T, and a Radeon HD 7700 or GeForce GTX 570. macOS and Linux have their own requirements.

Your character becomes a Watcher and can perceive the souls of other living beings. In the Dyrwood, they get caught up in a conflict over memories, rebirth and a mysterious crisis affecting newborns.

Personal experiences and the interests of different power groups collide. The story unfolds through the journey with companions and conversations about past decisions.

In the classic combat mode, the battle runs in real time but can be paused at any time. While paused, you issue commands, cast spells and reposition your group. Melee fighters protect vulnerable characters, while ranged fighters and mages prepare their attacks.

Positioning, armor and status effects make it worthwhile to use abilities deliberately rather than at random.

Since April 6, 2026, the PC version has a regular turn-based mode. Characters act one after another instead of using their abilities in ongoing real-time battles. You can switch between both modes outside of combat during the game.

This mode expands the original combat system and is not a separate version of the game.

Six playable peoples and eleven classes define the options for your main character. These include Humans, Aumaua, Dwarves, Elves, Godlike and Orlan. Classes such as Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Druid, Monk, Paladin and Chanter set different focuses.

With skills, attributes, equipment and talents, you develop your characters for your preferred playstyle.

You travel with a party whose members have different abilities and their own stories. Companions can react during conversations and open new storylines with their personal goals.

Your party composition also decides whether you handle battles mainly through armour and direct attacks or through control, spells and ranged combat.

Factions in Dyrwald pursue their own goals, and you can take a side. Your answers and actions affect how the group sees you. Side quests can also have more than one possible solution.

The game world reacts to relationships and decisions, but not every faction shares the same interests.

Caed Nua can be developed and managed as your own fortress. Alongside exploration and group adventures, you can commission upgrades in the fortress and use the complex as a base.

The fortress links your main character's progress to a permanent place within the game world.

On PC, Pillars of Eternity offers German interface and subtitles. Full voice acting is available in English. Other text languages, including French, Italian, Polish and Spanish, are also supported.

This makes the extensive dialogue easier to follow even without English skills.

A public test with full controller support has been running for the PC version since November 2026. It allows you to use a gamepad for inventory, character creation, dialogues, combat and managing Caed Nua. Steam, GOG and the Xbox app for PC offer test access.

Errors may occur during the test. The existing keyboard and mouse controls remain usable.