Beast of Winter, the first expansion scheduled to hit Pillars of Eternity II, will launch August 2nd for PC. It's included with the Season Pass alongside two additional expansions (Seeker, Slayer, Survivor and The Forgotten Sanctum). Beast of Winter will send players into another, supernatural dimension called The Beyond.

　　There'll be other free additions available on August 2nd, such as Patch 2.0 and the new Challenge Mode.

　　When reviewing the base game, Nathan wrote:

　　Pillars of Eternity II is a game, first and foremost, about roleplaying, and not just in the “gain XP for more hit points” sense. The game’s story and quests aren’t that mutable, but the way you respond to them is entirely up to you. It feels like you’re genuinely free to become the kind of hero you want to be, and you’ll eventually become pretty attached to your version of the Watcher.

　　And, rest assured, Pillars of Eternity II provides plenty to keep your hero busy. If you really keep your eye on the prize/giant lumbering god, you can plow through Pillars II in around 35 hours, but those who really embrace the world will take twice that long (or more). Replays are also strongly encouraged – the new Berath’s Blessings mechanic is essentially a form of New Game+, awarding you bonuses for your next playthrough for completing certain achievements. This is one tropical vacation you won’t want to end.

　　Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an exceptional roleplaying experience that truly lets you forge your own path in a rich, multilayered, grog-soaked world. Occasionally the game is just a touch too retro for its own good, but, for the most part, Pillars of Eternity II proves Obsidian has set the right course. It’s clear sailing ahead for the classic computer RPG.

　　Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is available now on PC and is set to launch later this year on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.