Larian Studios Shifts Focus to New Game, Enforces Media Blackout

Larian Studios, the developer behind the critically acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3, has announced a significant shift in focus to their next project, entering a self-imposed "media blackout" for the foreseeable future. Despite this, fans can still look forward to the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 this year, ensuring continued support for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Reflecting on the studio's journey, Larian boss Swen Vincke took to Twitter to express his nostalgia and excitement about what lies ahead. "But the story ain't over yet," Vincke tweeted, hinting at future endeavors while playfully suggesting he would skip the typical "dark night of the soul" moment often associated with creative processes.

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 "full attention is focused on crafting their next title." This new project will not be a sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3, nor will it be another Dungeons & Dragons game. Instead, it represents a fresh start for the studio, following their unsuccessful attempts to generate internal enthusiasm for a Baldur's Gate follow-up.

Swen Vincke hinted at the nature of this new game in November 2023, saying, "I wish I could tell you about our next big game but this is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries." This statement was in response to the numerous nominations Baldur’s Gate 3 received at The Game Awards, indicating high ambitions for their next venture.

Additionally, in July 2023, before the explosive launch of Baldur’s Gate 3, Vincke discussed the possibility of returning to the Divinity: Original Sin series with IGN. "It's our own universe we built, so we're definitely gonna get back there at some point," he said, though he cautioned fans not to expect it immediately. "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."

With Divinity off the immediate table, speculation abounds about what Larian's next game could be. Given their history with fantasy RPGs, could they venture into science fiction or a modern-day setting? Perhaps even a completely new genre? Only time will tell, as it may be years before we learn more about this mysterious new project.