The Game Awards statue mystery just got another major confirmation from one of the industry’s most reliable insiders. On December 10, 2025, NateTheHate, who holds a Tier 1 very reliable ranking in the gaming leaks community, posted a simple but definitive statement about the demon-covered monolith in the Mojave Desert: It’s Larian. That’s it. No elaboration, no hedging, just two words that sent the Divinity Original Sin community into absolute hysterics. Combined with the trademark discoveries, Michael Douse’s accidental confirmation of Divinity Original Sin 2 current-gen ports, and Jason Schreier calling the statue game very cool with many people excited for it, we’re basically at 100 percent certainty that Larian is revealing something at The Game Awards on December 11.
- Who is NateTheHate and Why Does He Matter
- What Makes This Different From Other Confirmations
- The Divinity 3 vs Original Sin 3 Debate
- Jason Schreier Added His Voice Too
- Community Reaction Has Been Interesting
- What About Dragon’s Dogma Fans
- When Will We Actually See It
- The Trademark Evidence Remains Strongest
- What This Means for Baldur’s Gate Fans
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Who is NateTheHate and Why Does He Matter
NateTheHate, also known as NateDrake in some circles, runs a YouTube channel focused on gaming industry news and insider information. The r/GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit ranks him as Tier 1 – Very Reliable based on his consistent track record of accurate leaks and predictions. That’s the highest credibility tier the community assigns, reserved for insiders who have repeatedly proven they have legitimate sources and don’t just throw speculation at walls hoping something sticks.
His track record includes correctly predicting Nintendo Direct dates and content, PlayStation State of Play schedules, and various game announcements before official reveals. In July 2025, he accurately leaked a Nintendo Direct several days before Nintendo announced it. He called Xenoblade Chronicles X getting multiplatform ports to PS5 and Xbox ahead of official confirmation. When he makes definitive statements like It’s Larian, the community takes them seriously because he’s earned that trust through years of accurate reporting.
What Makes This Different From Other Confirmations
NateTheHate isn’t the first person to connect the statue to Larian. MP1st discovered the trademark filings showing Divinity logos that matched the statue’s design. Michael Douse accidentally confirmed Divinity Original Sin 2 current-gen ports while denying Divinity Original Sin 3. Industry journalists have been hinting at Larian’s presence at The Game Awards. But NateTheHate’s confirmation matters because it comes from a completely independent source with his own insider channels. When multiple people with separate information pipelines all say the same thing, it stops being speculation and becomes fact.
The brevity of his statement also carries weight. It’s Larian isn’t hedged with maybe or I heard or sources suggest. It’s a flat declaration. Insiders who’ve built reputations on accuracy don’t make statements like that unless they’re absolutely certain. One wrong call can damage credibility built over years, so the fact that NateTheHate posted those two words without qualification tells you everything you need to know about his confidence level.
| Source | Credibility Tier | What They Said |
|---|---|---|
| MP1st | Outlet investigation | Found trademark matching statue design |
| Michael Douse | Official (Larian Publishing Director) | Denied DOS3, accidentally confirmed DOS2 ports |
| Jason Schreier | Tier 1 | Called statue game very cool, many will be excited |
| NateTheHate | Tier 1 | It’s Larian (flat confirmation) |
The Divinity 3 vs Original Sin 3 Debate
One of the most interesting aspects of the community discussion following NateTheHate’s confirmation involves what exactly Larian is announcing. Michael Douse explicitly said there aren’t currently any plans for Divinity Original Sin 3, but that doesn’t rule out other Divinity games. The franchise has a complicated naming history that confuses people unfamiliar with the series. Divine Divinity launched in 2002, followed by Beyond Divinity, then Divinity II in 2009. Divinity Original Sin came out in 2014, essentially rebooting the franchise with turn-based combat, and Original Sin 2 followed in 2017.
So when Douse denies Original Sin 3, he’s specifically ruling out the third game in that subseries. But Divinity 3, a sequel to 2009’s Divinity II rather than Original Sin 2, remains possible. That older game featured action RPG combat with a distinctive dragon transformation mechanic that let players shift between human and dragon forms during gameplay. Reddit discussions show fans speculating that Larian might be returning to that style, creating an action-focused entry while keeping the Original Sin subseries reserved for turn-based tactical combat.
Jason Schreier Added His Voice Too
Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, possibly gaming’s most credible insider with a decades-long track record of accurate reporting, also weighed in on the statue mystery. While he didn’t explicitly name Larian, he described the statue game as very cool and predicted many people will be excited for it. Given Schreier’s connections throughout the industry and his tendency to only comment when he has solid information, this statement essentially serves as independent corroboration of what NateTheHate and others have been saying.
Schreier typically avoids spoiling surprises unless there’s a journalistic reason to do so. The fact that he commented at all suggests the information is widely known within industry circles even if the general public hasn’t received official confirmation yet. His description of it being very cool and exciting for many people fits perfectly with a Larian announcement. The studio’s previous games have massive dedicated fanbases, and anything they announce would generate substantial hype given Baldur’s Gate 3’s success.
Community Reaction Has Been Interesting
The Reddit thread discussing NateTheHate’s confirmation generated hundreds of comments within hours. Most responses expressed excitement and validation that their guesses were correct, since Larian was among the most popular theories once the Diablo and Elder Scrolls options got ruled out. However, some interesting tangents emerged. Multiple users asked NateTheHate to please verify if Half-Life 3 is happening, referencing the SpookyHoo leaker who claimed both the Divinity announcement and a Half-Life project codenamed Xen would appear at The Game Awards.
NateTheHate hasn’t commented on Half-Life 3, which probably tells you everything you need to know about that particular rumor’s credibility. If he had information supporting it, he likely would have confirmed it alongside the Larian statement. His silence suggests either he doesn’t have information or what he’s heard contradicts the claim. Either way, expectations for a Half-Life announcement should be extremely low despite the SpookyHoo leak gaining traction.
What About Dragon’s Dogma Fans
One particularly amusing thread in the Reddit discussion involved Dragon’s Dogma fans expressing despair that the statue wasn’t teasing their franchise. Multiple comments noted the Dragon’s Dogma community is in disarray and has been since Dark Arisen, with fans desperate for news about future entries after Dragon’s Dogma 2’s controversial reception in 2024. Some joked that they threw in the towel after that game’s chaotic experience.
The disappointment is understandable. The statue’s demonic imagery and grotesque designs could have fit Dragon’s Dogma’s aesthetic, and that community has been starved for positive news. However, once the Divinity trademark evidence emerged, Dragon’s Dogma became extremely unlikely. Capcom doesn’t typically coordinate elaborate marketing stunts with The Game Awards in this style, whereas Larian has the resources and ambition to commission a physical monument as a teaser.
When Will We Actually See It
The Game Awards 2025 takes place on December 11, 2025, less than 24 hours from the time of NateTheHate’s confirmation. If Larian appears at the show, expect either a cinematic teaser trailer establishing tone and setting, or possibly a longer presentation if they’re further along in development than expected. Given that Michael Douse mentioned we’ll see what they’ve been working on when ready, and the statue campaign represents significant marketing investment, this probably isn’t just a logo reveal.
However, some Reddit users are tempering expectations by pointing out that announcing now with a full release not until 2028 would be a hype killer. Larian has historically used early access for their games, with both Divinity Original Sin 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 spending years in that state before official 1.0 launches. If they announce at The Game Awards, early access might come in 2026 or 2027 with full release following a year or two later. That’s a long wait, but Larian fans have proven willing to stick with the studio through extended development cycles.
The Trademark Evidence Remains Strongest
While insider confirmations from NateTheHate, hints from Jason Schreier, and Michael Douse’s accidental reveal all point to Larian, the hardest evidence remains those European trademark filings. MP1st discovered two new Divinity trademarks filed recently, both featuring logos and symbols. One of those symbols depicts tentacle-like appendages arranged in a pattern that matches the statue’s design almost perfectly. When placed side-by-side, the resemblance is undeniable.
Trademark filings are public records that companies can’t easily explain away. Unlike insider rumors that could theoretically be misinterpreted or based on outdated information, these filings represent concrete legal documentation. Someone at Larian or their legal representatives filed paperwork with the European Union Intellectual Property Office specifically for Divinity-related trademarks featuring imagery that matches a statue commissioned for The Game Awards. That’s not circumstantial. That’s documentary evidence.
What This Means for Baldur’s Gate Fans
Some Baldur’s Gate 3 fans expressed mixed feelings about Larian moving on from the Dungeons & Dragons universe. BG3 was many players’ introduction to the studio, and they might not care about Divinity as an IP. However, if you loved Baldur’s Gate 3’s gameplay, storytelling, environmental interactions, and attention to detail, you’ll almost certainly love whatever Larian makes next. The studio’s strengths aren’t tied to the D&D license. They’re tied to how they approach game design, narrative structure, and player agency.
CEO Swen Vincke has described their next projects as familiar enough but different with new tone and style. That suggests they’re keeping core mechanical DNA from Original Sin and Baldur’s Gate 3 while exploring new settings and narratives. Whether it’s Divinity 3 with action combat, a new Original Sin game that Douse won’t call Original Sin 3 for branding reasons, or something completely unexpected, trusting Larian’s creative vision has paid off repeatedly for fans willing to follow them.
FAQs
Who is NateTheHate?
NateTheHate, also known as NateDrake, is a YouTube content creator and industry insider ranked Tier 1 – Very Reliable by the r/GamingLeaksAndRumours community. He has a consistent track record of accurate leaks regarding Nintendo, PlayStation, and general gaming announcements.
What did NateTheHate say about the statue?
On December 10, 2025, NateTheHate posted a simple two-word confirmation: It’s Larian. This definitively connected the mysterious Game Awards statue to Larian Studios without hedging or uncertainty.
Is Larian making Divinity Original Sin 3?
According to Michael Douse, Director of Publishing at Larian, there aren’t currently any plans for Divinity Original Sin 3. However, this doesn’t rule out other Divinity games like Divinity 3, which would be a sequel to 2009’s Divinity II rather than Original Sin 2.
When is Larian’s game being announced?
The Game Awards 2025 takes place on December 11, 2025. Based on the statue marketing campaign and multiple insider confirmations, Larian is expected to reveal something during the show.
What is the statue teasing?
Trademark filings show new Divinity logos and symbols that match the statue’s design. This strongly suggests a new game in the Divinity franchise, though whether it’s a remake, remaster, or entirely new entry remains unclear.
Did Jason Schreier confirm it too?
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier called the statue game very cool and said many people will be excited for it. While he didn’t explicitly name Larian, this description aligns with independent confirmations from NateTheHate and trademark evidence.
Is Half-Life 3 being announced?
No credible insiders have confirmed Half-Life 3. A leaker named SpookyHoo claimed it alongside the Divinity announcement, but that source was later exposed for posting AI-generated fake Resident Evil 9 renders. NateTheHate has not commented on Half-Life.
When will Larian’s game release?
Unknown. Larian historically uses early access for their games, so early access might come in 2026-2027 with full release following 1-2 years later. Announcing at The Game Awards doesn’t necessarily mean the game releases soon.
What happened to Baldur’s Gate 4?
Larian confirmed they won’t be making Baldur’s Gate 4 or any DLC for Baldur’s Gate 3. They’re focusing on their own intellectual properties moving forward, with Wizards of the Coast retaining the D&D license.
Conclusion
NateTheHate’s simple It’s Larian confirmation represents the final puzzle piece in a mystery that was already 95 percent solved. Between the trademark filings, Michael Douse’s accidental PS5 port reveal, Jason Schreier’s hints, and now NateTheHate’s flat declaration, there’s basically zero doubt remaining about what gets announced at The Game Awards on December 11. The only questions left are what exactly they’re announcing, whether it’s called Divinity 3 or something else entirely, and how much gameplay or detail they’re willing to show. Larian has spent two years in relative silence since Baldur’s Gate 3’s final major patch, working on two projects that CEO Swen Vincke described as crazy ambitious. After the unprecedented success of BG3, expectations are impossibly high. Anything less than another generation-defining RPG will feel like a disappointment, even if that’s completely unfair to the developers. But if anyone has earned the benefit of the doubt, it’s Larian. They’ve delivered masterpiece after masterpiece, constantly raising the bar for what CRPGs can achieve. Whether this turns out to be an action-focused Divinity 3 bringing back dragon transformation mechanics, a spiritual successor to Original Sin with a different name, or something completely unexpected, betting against Larian at this point feels foolish. We’ll know for certain in less than 24 hours when Geoff Keighley finally reveals what that grotesque demon statue in the desert was teasing all along. And based on everything we know, it’s going to be Larian reminding everyone why they’re the best studio working in RPGs right now.