The success of Baldur’s Gate 3 propelled Larian Studios to the pinnacle of Western RPGs. With Divinity, the Belgian studio promises a return to its roots, with very good promises.
After the monumental success of Baldur’s Gate 3Larian Studios is already preparing the sequel. Announced during the last Game Awardsthe new Divinity marks the return of the Belgian studio to its dark fantasy universe, with clearly increased ambitions. An enthusiasm, however, quickly tempered by an unexpected controversy, triggered after an interview with Swen Vincke. The founder and creative director of Larian discussed the use of generative AI during the very first phases of development, a sensitive subject which ignited part of the community and pushed the studio to publicly clarify its position.
A return to Divinity after the Baldur’s Gate experience
Apart from the controversy over AI, in an interview given to BloombergVincke explains that this new Divinity must bring together everything the studio has learned over the years. The objective is to offer an RPG that is more fluid, more coherent and above all designed from the start for video games, without the constraints linked to an external license.
After Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian initially planned to continue working with Wizards of the Coast and the Dungeons and Dragons universe. However, after several months of development, the studio decided to end this project. Despite having a solid foundation, the team no longer felt the creative enthusiasm needed to move forward.
Divinity then became obvious. A license that Larian fully owns and which allows the studio to regain total control over its systems and its universe. Swen Vincke admits, Baldur’s Gate 3 was a huge success, but also a sometimes restrictive exercise because of the adaptation of the rules of the paper role-playing game. With Divinity, the studio can design a system entirely designed for video games.
A turn-based RPG true to Larian’s DNA
Larian does not intend to disrupt his identity. Divinity will remain a turn-based RPG, with tactical combat, a strong systemic dimension and great freedom given to the player. These elements constitute the basis of the studio’s know-how and have largely contributed to its success in recent years.
Swen Vincke evokes a Larian now freed from certain constraints, capable of pushing his ideas even further. The goal of Divinity is to deepen the emerging narrative and strengthen the impact of the player’s choices, so that each playthrough can tell a truly different story.
To support this ambition, Larian made the choice to change the game engine. An important decision, which led to technical difficulties at the start of development, but which the studio now considers essential. This new engine should allow better management of environments and zone streaming, while strengthening cinematic storytelling. Larian wants to capitalize on what made Baldur’s Gate 3 strong, while going even further in staging and immersion.
A shorter but still ambitious development
Development of Divinity officially began last year. This time, Larian hopes to complete the project in three to four years, a deadline considered healthier than the six years necessary for Baldur’s Gate 3, in particular because of the pandemic.
To achieve this, the studio is developing numerous narrative arcs and quests in parallel, which involves much larger writing and scripting teams than before. Despite everything, Swen Vincke insists on an essential point, creativity cannot be rushed, and certain ideas will always have to be tested, reworked, or even abandoned.
Early access confirmed
As with its previous games, Larian is planning an early access release for Divinity. This phase will allow the studio to refine its mechanics and integrate player feedback. On the other hand, you shouldn’t expect to play it quickly. According to Swen Vincke, an early access release before 2026 remains unlikely. The studio prefers to take the time necessary to lay solid foundations.
Source : Bloomberg
