During a recent Reddit AMA, Larian Studios’ leadership, including CEO Swen Vincke, unveiled fresh insights regarding their next major endeavor—the next installment in the Divinity franchise. The editorial team at TheGamer has synthesized the most significant revelations from the discussion.
Strict Limits on Artificial Intelligence
Swen Vincke confirmed that the next Divinity title will not utilize AI-generated graphics. While the studio leveraged generative tools during the early phases of visual ideation, they ultimately chose to exclude AI from the final concept art to avoid ethical controversies and maintain creative integrity.
Nevertheless, AI will continue to serve as a supportive utility within other departments, primarily to accelerate internal testing and prototype verification. This approach allows for more frequent iterations, enhancing gameplay quality while keeping the production process highly focused.
The Divinity Engine and Community Modding
The game is being forged on a proprietary framework—the Divinity Engine—which Larian has been evolving since 2014. For this new project, the engine has undergone “substantial architectural changes,” ensuring that the mechanics will not simply mirror those of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Official support for modifications has been confirmed, although the dedicated modding toolkit might not be available immediately at launch. Regarding navigation, the control scheme will remain consistent with Larian’s legacy: native WASD movement is not planned, as the game will utilize their signature hybrid camera system.
World-Building, Species, and Companions
While the narrative unfolds within the same universe as Divinity: Original Sin 2, it is designed as a standalone experience. Based on developer commentary and early teasers, players can expect a diverse roster of playable races, including humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, lizards, and potentially halflings.
The camp system returns, serving as a hub for fostering deeper, more intricate relationships with companions. By moving away from Dungeons & Dragons rules, resting at camp will no longer be tied to the mechanical necessity of replenishing spell slots.
Production Progress and New Gameplay Frontiers
Divinity is currently in active development, with award-winning composer Borislav Slavov returning to craft the score. The romance systems are being elevated to offer greater emotional complexity compared to the studio’s previous titles.
The developers confirmed that a lizard-race character will be among the available romantic options. Additionally, the team is exploring the implementation of swimming—a mechanic the designers felt was a missed opportunity in Larian’s earlier projects.
Cooperative play will be supported from day one, though the maximum party size is yet to be finalized. The overall tone is described as more grounded than their previous work, while still preserving the studio’s trademark humor. Players will be granted immense agency, including the freedom to play as a true villain who leaves the world in a far more precarious state than they found it.
As development is ongoing, the studio is not yet ready to showcase gameplay to the public.
Source: iXBT.games