Over two weeks, a mysterious demonic monolith in the Mojave Desert was the gaming world's primary puzzle. Speculation reached a fever pitch when an industry producer shared a picture of the curious statue, hinting it was a teaser for a significant game reveal. The internet went into overdrive to decipher the mystery. Might it signal new content for a major series? A long-awaited sequel in an iconic saga?
Simultaneously, the creative minds at Larian Studios were gleefully tracking every far-fetched theory internally. They possessed the answer: it was a teaser for their next project. Their private discussions served as the exclusive place they could discuss it, committed by an unbreakable oath of secrecy. Their commitment to silence was so total that they even became swept up in the growing hype.
"I remember I saw people theorize that it was a sequel to *Bloodborne*," recalled the game's writing director, "And I thought ‘Oh, I hope it is!’ Then I remembered: ‘No, it definitely is not!’"
The mysterious monument created a classic shared mystery, but it simultaneously raised a critical question: "Is it possible to end up disappointing people if you create hype?" This query is one Larian Studios must now confront as *Divinity* draws nearer. Billed as the studio's "largest-scale" project to date, the RPG will have far more attention in the wake of the massive success of their previous project, the celebrated *Baldur's Gate 3*.
A Homecoming
"I believe the most important factor is that we have no desire to disappoint fans," said Larian founder Swen Vincke, addressing concerns over alienating new fans expecting a direct sequel. "We are confident that the main draw they played *Baldur's Gate 3* was the interactive experience. That's our special sauce, and it has its origins in the *Divinity* games. This project is essentially a return to the roots of it."
Larian pulled out a cinematic spectacle to get *Baldur's Gate 3* fans interested in *Divinity*. The game's announcement trailer showcased blockbuster polish, featuring a nightmarish scene reminiscent of certain cult films. The teaser was packed with visceral imagery, created in part on a writer. It was a assured reveal, signaling the studio's belief in its next project.
However, this return to their own series wasn't always the plan. Although the studio aimed to return to its flagship CRPG series sooner or later, they originally considered following up to *Baldur's Gate 3* with a project closer in spirit to that world. *Divinity* has only been production for about two years following a significant pivot.
"We were working on a new game based in the world of D&D, built on the *Baldur's Gate 3* engine," noted Vincke. "Our intention was to take our time on *Divinity* subsequently. But we saw that our hearts weren't fully committed. We wrapped up our work with *Baldur's Gate 3*, so jumping into a sequel didn't appeal. So we pivoted away from that project. That decision accelerated everything for *Divinity*, which left us in a position where we had to begin anew."
Forging a Coherent World
Returning to *Divinity* after nearly a decade posed a considerable challenge. The team acquired vast experience making *Baldur's Gate 3*, which Vincke refers to as the *Divinity* series at a more "refined level." Now, he states that the new *Divinity* will be an even more evolved version of that game. To accomplish that, Larian needed to begin by re-solidifying the setting's lore.
"One of the first things we did was lay the groundwork for a consistent universe, because the *Divinity* lore was previously all over the place," Vincke elaborated. "We had to resolidify it, a process we learned from our work with D&D. Simultaneously, we were creating a new engine, so we adjusted our plans to implement it sooner. That process obviously was not as smoothly as expected, so we're now concluding a challenging transition period."
Vincke clarified that *Divinity* will be a tactical RPG playable solo or in cooperative multiplayer. It is also a self-contained title, even though after the events of the last major entry. Longtime fans will spot some familiar characters, but experience with the older games will not be required. The aim is to create a "consistent world where extraordinary things happen because of your actions."
The Core Pillar: Player Agency
That final concept is paramount. When asked what Larian believes is the most important thing to get right in *Divinity*, Vincke offered a one-word answer: agency. Larian's goal is to craft a more complex RPG packed with engaging "video game systems." This emphasis on deep simulation was a cornerstone of *Baldur's Gate 3*'s success, and the studio says it is enhancing that philosophy even further here.
"A central part of our design pillar is 'write your own legend.' So the control we want to provide you is the riskiest part," Vincke detailed. "We are implementing systems in there that will have you wondering, 'Really? It keeps going? But all I did was one small action!' We want players to discover these moments themselves. When we, during testing saw we could connect these choices, it gave me pure delight. It thrilled my inner player, and that's the emotion I want players to experience when the game comes out."
In addition to the enhanced focus on player agency, the development of *Baldur's Gate 3* has been crucial to *Divinity*'s progress. The studio explicitly notes that it gained extensive knowledge in writing and crafting cutscenes from that project, which will be a major element of the new game.
A Collaborative Development Philosophy
The team also analyzed the struggles they faced during the development of *Baldur's Gate 3*. Vincke observes that onboarding could be challenging in that game due to varied class rules. To make *Divinity* more accessible from the start, Larian set out to "create our own rulesets so we could make it more streamlined for play."
"One clear instance was opportunity attacks in *Baldur's Gate 3*," Vincke recalled. "Initially, we didn't want to include them. During early access, the community really, really wanted them. We were concerned it would hinder the gameplay. Eventually, we implemented them in and saw, well, it's truly better. They had a point! It was a positive moment because it clearly made the game better."
With this in mind, Larian's fans will be instrumental to *Divinity*'s success. Vincke stated that the studio will continue using fan feedback
