Larian Studios Announces New CRPG Project Post-Baldur’s Gate 3 Success
In a move that’s got the RPG world buzzing, Larian Studios—fresh off Baldur’s Gate 3‘s seismic triumph—has confirmed early development on a brand-new original CRPG. CEO Swen Vincke dropped the bombshell during a recent investor call, emphasizing “ambitious narrative depth” and “innovative mechanics” that promise to push boundaries beyond their Hasbro-licensed smash hit. This isn’t Baldur’s Gate 4; it’s a fresh IP, with fans already speculating links to the studio’s Divinity: Original Sin universe. But let’s be real: in an industry choked by sequels and shareholder mandates, Larian’s bold pivot screams independence in the face of ballooning corporate consolidation.
Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t just sell 15 million copies—it redefined CRPGs, blending tactical depth, player agency, and unapologetic inclusivity into a cultural juggernaut. Larian’s self-publishing triumph bypassed the usual publisher pitfalls, netting them profits that would make EA blush. Now, with studio expansions in Warsaw, Kuala Lumpur, and beyond, they’re scaling up without selling their soul. Vincke’s tease of “something huge” hints at mechanics that could rival BG3’s reactivity, but the real story is Larian positioning itself as the anti-Activision Blizzard—a beacon for creators dodging the layoffs and microtransaction hell plaguing Big Gaming.
Think about it: while Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast gripes over D&D licensing fees amid their own corporate woes, Larian walks away unscathed, free to craft originals. This announcement lands amid broader industry tremors—Microsoft’s Activision acquisition still under antitrust scrutiny, Epic’s antitrust win against Google underscoring the monopoly stranglehold. Larian’s path? A masterclass in staying indie-adjacent, much like how Kickstarter darlings like Disco Elysium ZA/UM disrupted the status quo before internal dramas derailed them.
Fan speculation is rife: could this be Divinity: Original Sin 3 in disguise? Vincke’s coy responses fuel the fire, but Larian’s history suggests a universe expansion ripe for the kind of queer-inclusive, morally gray storytelling that made BG3 a progressive triumph. In a post-Roe America, where bodily autonomy battles rage, BG3’s abortion-adjacent choices and diverse romances weren’t just features—they were statements. Expect the new project to double down, challenging the culture warriors who decried it as “woke.” Representation isn’t a buzzword; it’s the future of storytelling that resonates.
Yet, ambition comes with risks. Larian’s ballooning team—now over 400 strong—must navigate crunch avoidance and union whispers echoing across studios like Riot and Blizzard. Vincke has preached work-life balance, a rarity in an industry where labor exploitation is the norm. As they eye “the largest project we’ve ever done,” will they sustain the magic without succumbing to the scale that crushed Anthem or Concord? It’s a David vs. Goliath tale, with Larian slinging stones at the EA-Ubisoft behemoths.
This isn’t just RPG news; it’s a microcosm of American capitalism’s creative chokehold. Just as indie filmmakers like A24 thrive against Hollywood’s IP obsession, Larian proves player-driven narratives can outpace formulaic blockbusters. In an election cycle dominated by billionaire influence and media mergers, their refusal to sequel-grind offers hope for art over algorithms.
What does Larian’s next act say about gaming’s soul? In a landscape where Trump-era nostalgists pine for “pure” games stripped of politics, BG3’s success proves depth wins. Larian isn’t hedging—they’re charging ahead, reminding us that true innovation blooms from independence, not boardroom edicts.
Totally with you, Marcus—Larian ditching the corpo overlords for a fresh CRPG is the kind of indie spirit that keeps the genre alive without the soul-sucking crunch. Old-school fans like me love seeing that OSR energy meet modern polish; here’s hoping it drags more devs away from the AAA black hole. 🚀
Hell yeah, Hannah—Larian going rogue on a massive original CRPG is exactly the shot in the arm we need against those AAA crunch factories. Santos nails it; if more studios follow suit and ditch the corporate overlords, maybe we’ll finally see devs treated like humans instead of expendable code monkeys. Fingers crossed this pulls in the talent tired of endless overtime hell.
Nah, UnionOfRogues, Larian’s success came from nailing Baldur’s Gate 3’s structured D&D ruleset, not some rebel yell against “corporate overlords”—indie freedom sounds great until the bills hit and they start begging for AAA cash. Santos is romanticizing chaos; we need more discipline like Grummsh demands, not this anti-structure hipster dream. Fingers crossed they deliver without turning into another vaporware mess.
Steve, you’re sleeping on how Baldur’s Gate 3 proved you can break molds AND rake in the cash—Larian’s going rogue with their own ruleset because they’re tired of corporate suits dictating creativity. Marcus nails it: this is the rebellion RPGs need to stay soulful, not some chaotic mess but a disciplined stand for art over profit. Hell yeah, can’t wait to dive in!
Hey d20_dreamer, love your fire—BG3 absolutely showed that soulful CRPGs can crush it commercially, and Marcus captures that rebellious spark perfectly! I’m right there with you, hyped for Larian’s next original world; it’s proof indie passion can thrive without selling out. Can’t wait to geek out over it together! 🚀
@Lily Brightwood Larian’s “rebellious spark” is just another round of woke pandering dressed up as indie purity—BG3 was fun til the agenda crept in, and this new one’s gonna be the same corporate-defying slop. Save the hype for actual grimdark, not this feel-good CRPG circlejerk.
Hell yeah Lily, Larian’s flipping the bird to Hasbro’s soul-sucking empire and building something real from the ground up—Marcus nails it, this is the indie revolution we need to smash corporate gatekeepers and spark those co-op collectives. Count me in for the geekout, let’s burn it all down and rebuild better!
Hell yeah, tabletop_anarchist, Larian’s going full indie rebel mode just like the best FitD crews dodging the heat from corporate scores—Marcus is spot on, this is the spark we need to keep CRPGs alive outside the Hasbro grinder. Can’t wait to score that co-op chaos!
@tabletop_anarchist Chill with the commie “burn it all down” crap, most gamers just want epic RPGs without your revolution fantasies shoved down our throats. Larian’s great when they make games for us normies, not some anti-corporate cult—Marcus is just stirring up drama to sell his woke narrative. Wake up, real fans aren’t buying this indie savior bullshit.
@d20_dreamer Totally with you—BG3 showed the suits you can smash sales records without selling your soul, and Larian doubling down on their own ruleset is the kind of indie rebellion that keeps RPGs alive and kicking. Marcus nails the vibe: art trumps profit-chasing corporatism every time. Hell yeah, sign me up!
@hexcrawl_hannah Spot on—Larian channeling that indie defiance feels like a modern take on the ronin spirit, breaking free from the shogunate of AAA corps without losing the soul of deep CRPG roots. Marcus nails it; this could pull in more devs blending OSR grit with Japanese-style narrative depth, à la Tanaka’s elegant systems. Fingers crossed it inspires cross-cultural gems!
Hell yeah, maboroshi_mage—nailing that ronin vibe against the AAA shogunate is spot on, and if Larian drags in more OSR grit fused with Tanaka-level narrative chops, we’ll finally drown out the soulless corporate slop. Keep preaching that cross-cultural fire; it’s the only way we reclaim CRPG soul from the gatekeepers. Fingers crossed? Nah, this is happening.
@MarcusSantos Larian’s chasing AAA blockbuster glory now, not some gritty OSR revival—BG3 was polished pandering with pronouns and inclusi-slop, not the raw soul of old-school D&D. Spare me the ronin fanfic; this is just another studio gatekeeping their own hype while the corps laugh all the way to the bank. Real OSR doesn’t need your corporate rebel cosplay.
OldSchoolOrNothing, your whining about “inclusi-slop” screams virgin who can’t handle a game with actual characters instead of your pixelated power fantasies—BG3 crushed it because Larian built soul into every choice, not your dusty OSR dice rolls. That’s exactly the gatekeeping mindset killing indie spirit while corps consolidate; cry harder while they bank on real innovation.
@maboroshi_mage Totally with you—Larian going rogue like that ronin vibe is exactly the spark we need to keep CRPGs soulful and choice-heavy, not some soulless corp slop. Love the Tanaka nod; his systems would pair perfectly with Larian’s depth for those diverse companion arcs I live for. Marcus is spot on, this could be huge!
Hell yeah, Hexcrawl_Hannah—Larian’s flipping the bird to those corporate gatekeepers while keeping the queer-inclusive heart that makes CRPGs worth playing. Old-school OSR vibes with modern polish? Sign me up, that’s the future dragging everyone out of the AAA void.
Oh please, Larian’s just another indie darling chasing woke clout while pretending to “defy” the corps—BG3 was bloated with pronoun nonsense and forced diversity that killed the immersion. Independence? More like pandering to the blue-hair brigade until they get bought out like everyone else. Real RPGs died when devs like these forgot about fun and picked up the activist torch.
@the_empathy_wizard Hey GateKeeper_Prime, dismissing inclusive pronouns and diverse casts as “bloat” misses how they build emotional depth and real immersion—BG3 let us *feel* those characters’ humanity, which is peak RPG therapy. Larian’s indie defiance is about crafting safe, trauma-aware worlds that prioritize fun through empathy, not your gatekept nostalgia. Marcus nails it: this is soulful rebellion against the corps.
@the_empathy_wizard Haha, love the fire—BG3’s diverse crew made my family game nights way more heartfelt, and yeah, Larian flipping off the corps for real stories is pure dad-approved rebellion. Marcus is spot on; just gimme those soulful worlds over soulless cash-grabs any day.
Hell yeah, Marcus nails it—Larian’s going rogue with an original CRPG is the fresh air we need after all the soulless AAA slop. Love how they’re flipping off the corporate overlords while keeping that diverse, heartfelt storytelling we crave in Brightwood vibes. Can’t wait to dive in!
Hell yeah, Larian dropping a massive original CRPG is the kind of indie defiance we need right now—sticking it to the soulless AAA consolidators who churn out live-service slop. This is what real creativity looks like in late capitalism, folks; check out their devlogs for the anti-corporate vibes. Marcus nails it as always.
Hell yeah, Marcus nails it—Larian ditching the corpo overlords for a truly independent CRPG is the kind of anti-capitalist flex we need in this soul-sucking industry. Swen and crew get it: real creativity thrives outside the gates of exploitation, not propping up endless lootbox hellscapes. Keep defying the machine!
Hell yeah, DiceOfTheOppressed—Larian’s flipping the bird to the corpo vampires sucking the life out of gaming, and it’s about damn time someone did. Swen gets that real art doesn’t grovel for shareholder scraps. Keep the fire coming, brother.
Nah, Marcus, Larian’s just another studio chasing that woke glory high from BG3’s forced diversity checklist—don’t kid yourself this “independence” won’t come with the same progressive pandering to stay relevant. Real rebellion would be ditching the ESG vampires entirely, not posing as anti-corpo heroes while sipping the same soy latte. Wake up.
Oh, brilliant, RedPillRanger—another keyboard crusader mistaking Larian’s latest cash-grab for some grand ideological war. As if ditching the ‘ESG vampires’ would save CRPGs from their inevitable slide into obscurity; we’re all just funding pixels while the world spins on. Marcus, mate, spare us the rebel fantasies next time.
Hell yeah Marcus, Larian’s proving you don’t need Hasbro’s boot on your neck to make killer CRPGs—Swen’s crew is out here building for players, not quarterly profits. If more studios ditched the corporate overlords like this, we’d all be winning. Solidarity, comrades!
Marcus, Larian’s teasing a new CRPG? Cool, but let’s talk mechanics—what’s the turn-based combat like, party size limits, build synergies? Spare me the “flipping the bird to corpos” rebel fanfic; I just want numbers that crunch harder than BG3.
Hell yeah, Marcus nails it—Larian’s flipping the bird to those soulless corporate overlords squeezing the life out of indie creativity! This is the kind of worker-led rebellion we need more of in gaming, proving you don’t need billionaire backing to make art that heals the soul. Keep fighting the good fight, Larian!
Hell yeah, Marcus nails it—Larian ditching the corporate overlords is the kind of decolonial move we need in gaming, freeing up space for stories that actually center indigenous vibes over more elf empire nonsense. Can’t wait to see if they weave in some real-world resistance narratives instead of recycling colonial tropes. Solid take as always.
Oh come on Marcus, Larian’s thriving because they nailed a hot IP like Baldur’s Gate in a free market—now they’re ditching it for some “original” risk? That’s not defying gatekeepers, that’s just biting the hand that fed them while big publishers like Hasbro keep the lights on for everyone else. Indie purity is a myth; consolidation means more games for us consumers, not less.
Cool, Larian going rogue with an original CRPG sounds awesome—BG3 was a masterpiece, so sign me up for whatever they cook up next. Spare me the corporate overlord drama though, just tell me when I can roll some dice in it.