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Douse is likely referring to Nick Pechenin, Larian’s Head of Design, who manages the intricate systems that govern both exploration and battle. As a lead developer with such significant oversight, Pechenin’s personal gaming tastes naturally leave a subtle mark on the project’s mechanics.
Many people involved. One of our combat guys is a big jrpg fan for example, but i don’t know about Nick. Swen isn’t, he’s an ultima guy.February 8, 2026
However, Douse clarified that CEO Swen Vincke isn’t the source of any JRPG-style flair. Vincke, the creative force behind every Larian title to date, remains a dedicated fan of the Ultima series.
In the world of classic role-playing games, few names carry as much weight as Ultima. Created by Richard Garriott in the early ’80s, this pioneering series laid the groundwork for complex storytelling and open-world exploration. The DNA of those early dungeon crawlers is clearly visible in Larian’s modern masterpieces, particularly in how they prioritize player agency.
That said, it’s easy to spot traces of a Japanese-inspired approach in both Original Sin and Baldur’s Gate 3, especially within the deliberate pacing and tactical structure of their turn-based combat. It remains to be seen if this fusion will become even more prominent in the next Divinity installment. We might even see Larian embrace a hybrid style similar to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, blending Western aesthetics with the rhythmic mechanics of a JRPG. Regardless of the direction, the results are sure to be compelling.
In a recent update, Swen Vincke hinted that Larian’s next Divinity project “concludes with a fair amount of pyrotechnics” after a successful Persuasion check revealed more than intended.
Source: gamesradar.com
