Swen Vincke’s team has prioritized absolute creative independence over commercial safety.
The gaming industry was caught off guard when Larian Studios announced it would part ways with the Dungeons & Dragons license following the monumental triumph of Baldur’s Gate 3. Rather than capitalizing on the momentum with a direct sequel, the studio has chosen to pivot back to its internal intellectual property, focusing on the revitalization of the Divinity franchise.
The rationale behind this move is straightforward: a new D&D project would necessitate operating under the continued oversight of Wizards of the Coast and its parent corporation, Hasbro. To escape these constraints, Vincke’s squad opted for the liberty of self-governance.
Walking away from a virtually guaranteed blockbuster was a difficult choice, yet former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij voiced his profound admiration for Larian’s commitment to their artistic ambitions.
It’s incredibly refreshing that Larian Studios, coming off the high of Baldur’s Gate 3, simply said: ‘We don’t want to make Baldur’s Gate 4. We’re going to create something else.’ That is a bold, commendable move. It’s far from the obvious choice and carries significant risk, given how much easier it is to just repeat a proven formula.
According to the veteran developer, most major studios are hesitant to embrace such experimentation once they hold the keys to a wildly successful franchise.
Source: iXBT.games