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 complete shift in focus towards their next project. As part of this transition, the studio has committed to a "media blackout" for the foreseeable future, signaling a deep dive into the development of their upcoming game. Despite the excitement around the upcoming Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3, which is set to release later this year, Larian's full attention is now on crafting something entirely new.

Reflecting on the studio’s journey, Larian boss Swen Vincke took to Twitter to express his nostalgia and pride in the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. "But the story ain't over yet," Vincke teased, hinting at more to come from the studio. In a follow-up statement to VideoGamer, Larian confirmed that Vincke and the team are fully committed to their next title, emphasizing the media blackout as a means to maintain focus.

While details about Larian's next game remain scarce, it's clear that it will not be a sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3 or any Dungeons & Dragons game. Instead, it's a fresh venture, prompted by the studio's unsuccessful attempts to generate internal excitement for another Baldur’s Gate follow-up. Back in November 2023, Vincke hinted at the studio's next big project, suggesting it would push many boundaries and expressing his excitement about its potential.

Despite the focus on this new, unannounced game, Vincke has not forgotten about the Divinity: Original Sin series. In a July 2023 interview with IGN, he mentioned that a sequel to Divinity is on the horizon, though fans should not expect it immediately. "It's our own universe we built, so we're definitely gonna get back there at some point," Vincke stated, underscoring the need for a creative break after the intense development of Baldur’s Gate 3.

With Larian's history of creating fantasy RPGs, speculation abounds about the direction of their next game. Could it be a foray into science fiction, a modern-day setting, or perhaps an entirely new genre? As Larian embarks on this media blackout, fans may have to wait years before discovering what groundbreaking project the studio has in store.