Larian Studios, the developer behind the critically acclaimed Baldur's Gate 3, has announced a significant shift in focus towards their next major project. In a move that signals the end of an era for fans of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Larian has declared a "media blackout" for the foreseeable future. This decision comes as the studio gears up to deliver Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8, which is slated for release later this year, but their "full attention" is now on what's next.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Larian boss Swen Vincke took to Twitter to express his nostalgia and excitement. "But the story ain't over yet," Vincke teased, hinting at more to come from the studio. His tweet, posted last week, underscores the studio's ambition to continue pushing boundaries in game development.
Got me all nostalgic - it really has been an incredible journey so far. But the story ain't over yet. Stay tuned. Going to try to skip the dark night of the soul moment though if you don't mind. https://t.co/eLSTv3CXb4
— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) January 10, 2025
In a statement to VideoGamer, Larian confirmed that Swen and the team's focus is now entirely on crafting their next title. This new project, shrouded in mystery, is not a sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3, nor is it related to Dungeons & Dragons. Instead, it represents a fresh start for the studio, a direction they chose after failing to ignite internal enthusiasm for another Baldur's Gate game.
Hints about Larian's next big game have been sparse. In November 2023, Vincke spoke vaguely about the studio's next project, expressing excitement about pushing boundaries. And in July 2023, before Baldur's Gate 3's explosive launch, Vincke mentioned to IGN that a sequel to the Divinity: Original Sin series is also in the works, though fans shouldn't expect it anytime soon.
"It's our own universe we built, so we're definitely gonna get back there at some point," Vincke said about Divinity. "We will get back there at some point. We'll first finish [Baldur's Gate 3], and then take a break, because we will need to refresh ourselves creatively also. You’re seeing 400 developers putting their heart and souls into this. You’re getting the best of them and their craft into this game. And so I can tell you, it's quite a thing."
With Divinity not being the immediate next project, speculation abounds about what Larian might be working on. Could it be a foray into science fiction, a modern-day setting, or perhaps an entirely new genre? Only time will tell, and it seems it may be years before we get a glimpse of what Larian has in store.
