Larian Studios just dropped a massive announcement at The Game Awards 2025 that has RPG fans losing their minds. The studio behind Baldur’s Gate 3, which swept awards in 2023 and became one of the most beloved games of the decade, is returning to its roots with a brand new Divinity game. And according to founder Swen Vincke, it’s going to be even larger than Baldur’s Gate 3.
Back to the Divinity Universe
The reveal followed weeks of speculation after a mysterious statue appeared in the California desert, sparking theories about everything from Diablo 4 to The Elder Scrolls 6. When Larian filed a trademark application for Divinity with a symbol matching the statue, fans knew something big was coming. The Game Awards 2025 confirmed their suspicions with a teaser that promised Larian’s darkest and most ambitious project yet.
This marks Larian’s return to the franchise that made them famous before Baldur’s Gate 3. The Divinity series, particularly Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2, established the studio’s reputation for deep, strategic turn-based combat and rich cooperative gameplay. Those games built the foundation that would eventually lead to the massive success of BG3.
What We Know So Far
Swen Vincke confirmed in post-announcement interviews that the new Divinity will be a turn-based RPG, staying true to the formula that fans love. It will support both single-player and cooperative multiplayer, allowing friends to experience the story together just like in Baldur’s Gate 3. The game has already been in development for two years and is now in full production, though no release date has been announced.
The game is designed as a standalone title that won’t require knowledge of previous Divinity games. While returning characters will appear and be recognizable to longtime fans, newcomers can jump right in. Vincke described his vision as creating a consistent, grounded world where fantastic things occur because of player actions.
Early Access Is Coming Back
Larian plans to release Divinity through early access, the same strategy that proved incredibly successful for Baldur’s Gate 3. The studio credits community feedback during BG3’s early access period from 2020 to 2023 as instrumental in shaping the final game. Vincke explained that comparing Baldur’s Gate 3 before and after early access reveals significant changes and adjustments based on player input.
While Vincke cautioned that he can’t predict how the gaming industry will evolve and doesn’t want to make firm promises, the plan is to follow the same collaborative development approach. The early access model requires additional effort but consistently leads to better games, which aligns with Larian’s core philosophy.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
The primary concern for Larian isn’t attracting new fans after Baldur’s Gate 3’s success. It’s not letting down existing fans who might expect Baldur’s Gate 4. Vincke addressed this directly, emphasizing that the gameplay formula fans enjoyed in BG3 originated in Divinity. By returning to that franchise, Larian is essentially going back to its roots rather than abandoning what made them successful.
This decision also frees Larian from the constraints of working with Dungeons and Dragons rules and Wizards of the Coast’s oversight. The studio can now exercise complete creative control over its own intellectual property. After scaling up massively to deliver BG3, not being beholden to a publisher or IP-holding partner means Larian can take full advantage of its expanded capabilities.
The Pressure Is Real
Swen Vincke admits there’s definitely more pressure to nail Divinity after the smash success of Baldur’s Gate 3. Following up a Game of the Year winner that captured mainstream attention is no small feat. But Larian appears confident they can meet expectations. Vincke mentioned that they believe they know when the game will be ready, though he jokes their history with release date predictions isn’t great, so they’re not making any guarantees.
The studio has also hinted that this won’t be their only project. Before the announcement, Vincke confirmed Larian was working on two new games, both original IPs rather than licensed properties. Whether the second project is also set in the Divinity universe or represents something completely new remains to be seen.
What This Means for RPG Fans
For players mourning the current state of traditional RPG developers like BioWare, Larian’s announcement offers hope. The studio has proven it can deliver character-forward RPG sandbox experiences packed with deep strategy and meaningful roleplay opportunities. Their commitment to turn-based combat, cooperative play, and community-driven development through early access shows they’re not chasing trends or compromising their vision.
The promise that Divinity will be even larger than Baldur’s Gate 3 is both exciting and slightly terrifying. BG3 already offered hundreds of hours of content with extraordinary reactivity and branching paths. If Larian can scale that up while maintaining quality and polish, we might be looking at the next landmark RPG that defines the genre for years to come.
FAQs
What is Larian’s new Divinity game?
Divinity is Larian Studios’ next RPG, announced at The Game Awards 2025. It’s described as the studio’s most ambitious and largest game yet, even bigger than Baldur’s Gate 3, and represents a return to their original franchise.
Will Divinity be turn-based like Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes, Larian confirmed that Divinity will be a turn-based RPG. The game will support both single-player and cooperative multiplayer gameplay, staying true to the formula established in previous Divinity games and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Do I need to play previous Divinity games first?
No, Divinity is designed as a standalone title. While returning characters will be recognizable to longtime fans, Larian is creating the game so newcomers can jump in without prior knowledge of Divinity: Original Sin 1 or 2.
Will Divinity have early access?
Most likely yes. Swen Vincke confirmed that Larian plans to release Divinity through early access, following the same successful strategy used for Baldur’s Gate 3. This allows community feedback to shape the game’s development.
When will Divinity be released?
No release date has been announced. The game has been in development for two years and is now in full production. Given Baldur’s Gate 3 spent three years in early access, it could be several years before Divinity launches in its final form.
Is Larian making Baldur’s Gate 4?
No, Larian Studios is not developing Baldur’s Gate 4. After completing BG3, the studio decided to focus on developing their own intellectual properties rather than continuing to work with licensed franchises like Dungeons and Dragons.
What platforms will Divinity be available on?
Platform details have not been officially announced yet. However, given Baldur’s Gate 3’s multiplatform release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, it’s reasonable to expect similar availability.
Will Divinity be darker than Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes, Larian has specifically described Divinity as their darkest game yet. While Baldur’s Gate 3 certainly had dark moments, the new Divinity appears to be leaning even further into mature and serious storytelling.
Conclusion
Larian Studios proved with Baldur’s Gate 3 that they’re one of the best RPG developers in the industry right now. Their return to the Divinity franchise with complete creative freedom and an even more ambitious scope is exactly what fans hoped to see. The combination of turn-based combat, cooperative multiplayer, early access development, and Larian’s proven ability to create reactive, choice-driven narratives makes this one of the most anticipated RPGs on the horizon. We might not know when we’ll actually get to play it, but the fact that it’s happening at all is enough to get excited about. If you loved Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity is absolutely going to be great.