Larian Studios basically changed the entire landscape of modern CRPGs before they ever touched Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s wild to think about now, but back in 2017, nobody was quite sure if a tactical, turn-based epic could really work on anything other than a high-end PC. Fast forward a few years, and the conversation around Divinity Original Sin 2 platforms has become a masterclass in how to port a complex game without losing its soul. You’ve got people playing this 100-hour behemoth on everything from a massive desktop rig to an iPad while sitting on a train.
It’s not just about where you can play it, though. It’s about how the experience shifts.
The game is dense. Honestly, it’s intimidatingly dense. We’re talking about a world where you can talk to every single animal, teleport your enemies into pools of necrofire, and accidentally kill a quest-giver because you forgot you had a "Stench" talent. Because the systems are so interconnected, the hardware you choose actually dictates how you interact with Rivellon.
The PC Standard and Why It Still Wins
For most veterans, the PC version remains the definitive way to experience the Definitive Edition. It’s the native home. When Larian first launched the Kickstarter, they were building for the mouse and keyboard. That matters because of the inventory management. If you’ve played this game, you know that your backpack quickly becomes a nightmare of various body parts, elemental grenades, and mysterious keys you’ll never use.
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Sorting through that with a mouse is just faster.
But it’s not just the UI. The PC version is the only place where you get the full breadth of the Steam Workshop. The modding community for this game is staggering. Want to play as a Bard? There’s a mod for that. Think the tactile combat is a bit too slow? You can speed up the animations. You can even add entirely new classes like the Chronomancer or the Umbra. Without these, you're basically playing the "vanilla" experience, which is great, but you’re missing out on years of community-driven polish.
Then there’s the hardware ceiling. Playing on a 4K monitor with the shadows cranked up makes the Blackpits—an area notorious for making GPUs scream—look hauntingly beautiful.
Moving to the Couch: The Console Experience
When Larian announced they were bringing the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, people were skeptical. How do you map dozens of spells, a complex hotbar, and a tactical camera to a controller? They did it by leaning into radial menus. It’s different. It’s slower.
You’ll spend a lot more time "cycling" through targets than you would with a simple click.
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However, there is a massive upside to the console versions of Divinity Original Sin 2 platforms: local split-screen co-op. This is arguably the best way to play the game. Sitting on a couch with a friend, arguing over who gets to keep the Teleporter Pyramids, is a core gaming memory for many. The screen splits down the middle when you wander apart and merges when you’re in the same combat encounter. It’s seamless.
On the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the game runs via backward compatibility. You aren't getting a "next-gen" patch per se, but the loading times are drastically reduced. If you remember the original PS4 loading screens—which felt like they took long enough to go make a sandwich—the SSDs in the newer consoles are a godsend.
The Nintendo Switch Port is a Technical Miracle
Let’s talk about the Switch. It shouldn't work. The Switch is essentially powered by a mobile processor from 2015, yet it runs this massive game remarkably well.
Of course, there are compromises.
The resolution drops. It looks "fuzzy" compared to the PC version. The textures are simplified, and the frame rate can chug when there’s too much fire on screen (and in this game, there is always fire). But the trade-off is portability. Being able to take a full-blown CRPG on a flight is incredible.
One feature that makes the Switch version stand out among Divinity Original Sin 2 platforms is the Steam Cloud Save integration. You can play on your PC at night, sync your save, and then continue that exact same battle on your Switch during your lunch break the next day. It is one of the few games that actually respects your time by letting you switch between high-fidelity and portability.
The iPad Pro and the "Touch" Revolution
Perhaps the most surprising entry in the list of Divinity Original Sin 2 platforms is the iPad. Specifically, the versions for iPad Pro and newer iPad Airs (with the M1/M2 chips). This isn't a watered-down mobile port. It is the full game.
Larian worked with Elverils to completely redesign the UI for touch controls.
It feels... natural? Surprisingly so. Tapping a location to move or pinching to zoom into the battlefield feels more intuitive than using a thumbstick. If you have a Magic Keyboard or a Bluetooth controller, you can also use those, essentially turning your tablet into a portable PC. It supports 60 FPS on the higher-end iPads, which actually makes it smoother than the Switch or the base PS4 versions.
Cross-Platform Play: The Reality Check
Here is where things get a bit annoying.
While there is cross-save between PC and Switch, there is no true cross-play between most platforms. If you are on a PC, you cannot play with your friend on a PlayStation. If you are on an iPad, you can play with Mac and PC players, which is a nice touch, but the console ecosystems remain largely walled off. It’s a limitation of the engine and the way the different versions handle multiplayer synchronization.
- PC/Mac: Play together.
- iPad/PC/Mac: Play together.
- PlayStation: Only with other PlayStation users.
- Xbox: Only with other Xbox users.
Performance Nuances You Should Know
If you’re deciding based on performance, the hierarchy is pretty clear.
High-end PCs take the top spot, obviously. But the gap between the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch is where the real debate happens now. The Steam Deck runs the PC version, meaning you get better graphics and mod support, but the Switch is lighter and has better battery life for this specific title.
The "Blackpits" test is the gold standard for Divinity Original Sin 2 platforms. In Act 2, there is a fight involving a massive amount of oil and fire. On the original base PS4 and Switch, the frame rate can drop into the teens. On the iPad Pro (M2) and PC, it barely flinches. If you hate lag, stay away from the older hardware.
Actionable Takeaways for Choosing Your Platform
Choosing where to play depends entirely on your lifestyle and how much you care about the "nitty-gritty" of the mechanics.
- For the best visual and mechanical experience: Stick to PC. The ability to use a mouse for inventory management cannot be overstated, and the modding scene adds hundreds of hours of fresh content.
- For the social gamer: Get it on PlayStation or Xbox for the couch co-op. It is the most stable way to play with a partner in the same room without tethering two laptops together.
- For the commuter: The iPad Pro version is actually superior to the Switch version in terms of raw power and resolution, provided you have a compatible device. However, the Switch is the cheapest way to get the game in a handheld format.
- Check your saves: If you plan on jumping between devices, remember that only the PC/Switch and PC/Mac/iPad pipelines support cloud save syncing. Console players are locked to their respective boxes.
Ultimately, Larian ensured that regardless of the hardware, the core reactivity—the "if I can think of it, I can do it" gameplay—remains intact. You aren't getting a "lesser" story on the Switch; you’re just getting a blurrier one. The tactical depth, the incredible voice acting, and the sheer audacity of the quest design survive the transition to every single one of these Divinity Original Sin 2 platforms.
If you're just starting, pick the screen you’re most comfortable staring at for six hours straight, because that’s exactly what’s about to happen. Once Rivellon grabs you, the platform becomes secondary to the story you’re weaving. Just remember to save often—this game punishes overconfidence regardless of whether you're using a mouse or a touch screen.