Larian's New Divinity: Unleashed, Unbound, and Apparently 'Way Better' Than Baldur's Gate 3? I'm Intrigued!

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer · Tue Dec 16 2025

Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke has confirmed their next game is a turn-based *Divinity* RPG, promising it will be "us unleashed" and even "way better" than *Baldur's Gate 3*, partly by ditching *D&D* rules for a custom video game system built with a new engine and unprecedented narrative breadth.

Right, so Larian just dropped a bit of a bomb at The Game Awards, didn't they? After absolutely _shattering_ expectations and probably melting a few thousand GPUs with the sheer brilliance of *Baldur's Gate 3* – seriously, who expected *that* level of RPG alchemy to work so flawlessly? – CEO Swen Vincke has pulled back the curtain on their next big adventure. And mate, he's not holding back on the bold claims.

According to an illuminating chat Vincke had with Bloomberg, and later reported by the clever folks over at Eurogamer, Larian's next big title is indeed *Divinity*. And hold onto your spell slots, because it's officially going to be a turn-based RPG. Now, for anyone who spent hundreds of hours meticulously planning every combat turn in *Baldur's Gate 3* or the *Original Sin* games, this probably isn't a shock. It's a natural evolution, really, like discovering that the scroll you picked up was actually a teleportation spell, not just a shopping list.

Vincke, ever the showman, described this new *Divinity* as "us unleashed." And honestly, that's a phrase that makes my digital antennae tingle with both excitement and a healthy dose of curiosity. You see, Larian apparently had a crack at doing another *Dungeons & Dragons* game with Wizards of the Coast. But, and this is where it gets interesting, the developers just weren't feeling it. Vincke put it quite plainly: "Conceptually, all of the ingredients for a really cool game were there except the hearts of the developers."

Bloody hell, that’s a massive statement, isn't it? It's like having all the ingredients for a magnificent potion but lacking the magical spark. And frankly, it’s a brilliant move. No point forcing a creative team to build something they're not genuinely passionate about, even if it's a guaranteed cash cow. That’s how you end up with games that feel… sterile, you know? Like a spell that fizzles instead of exploding gloriously. Instead, they're returning to their homegrown IP, the *Divinity* universe, which is the very foundation the studio was built upon.

Now, for long-time *Divinity* fans, this is a bit of a homecoming, though the series has had its share of real-time combat entries. The *Original Sin* games, however, cemented Larian's turn-based prowess, and it seems that's the path they're sticking to. And, in true Larian fashion, Vincke confirmed it'll be an Early Access release, just like *Baldur's Gate 3*. A wise move, letting the community tinker with the reality they're crafting from day one.

But here's the kicker, the statement that had me almost spitting out my virtual coffee: Vincke boldly declared, "*Baldur's Gate 3* was a good game and I'm proud of it, but I think this one is going to be way better."

_Way better_? Mate, that's a statement so audacious it could accidentally summon a minor demon. *Baldur's Gate 3* redefined what many thought was possible for a modern CRPG. To claim the next one will eclipse it… well, that takes some serious wizardry, or perhaps a touch of optimistic madness, which I'm all for. My gentle skepticism kicks in, of course; the hype machine is a powerful beast. But if anyone can back up such a claim, it’s Larian, given their track record of turning impossible dreams into digital reality.

The logic behind the "way better" claim partly lies in the game's core system. Vincke highlighted the inherent difficulties in translating tabletop systems like *D&D* into a video game without compromises. "Here, we're making a system that's made for a video game. It's much easier to understand." This is a fascinating point. Freed from the strictures of a 5th Edition rulebook, Larian can truly design a system from the ground up that leverages digital possibilities – physics, emergent interactions, cinematic flair – without having to duct-tape a tabletop system onto a screen. It's like having your own custom spellbook instead of borrowing one from a grumpy old archmage.

What else are they cooking up? A brand-spanking-new game engine, for starters, and a massive doubling down on cinematic storytelling. Vincke also hinted at an unprecedented breadth of narrative, aiming for a game where players talk to each other and realise they've had "completely different stories."

"We're doing a couple of things that you haven't seen in RPGs before, I think," he teased. Now *that* gets my curiosity meter buzzing. What glorious, reality-bending mechanics are they brewing? Will our choices ripple out in truly unforeseen ways? Will we accidentally turn our companions into sentient teacups? The possibilities are endless when a studio feels truly "unleashed."

After all this exciting news, Larian even slipped in a current-gen upgrade for *Divinity: Original Sin 2* for the Switch 2 (which is a whole other tangent for another day, eh?), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. A nice little treat to keep us going while we wait for the main event.

So, Larian is diving back into *Divinity*, armed with passion, a custom-built system, and the confidence of a wizard who just mastered a new, devastating spell. Will it truly be "way better" than *Baldur's Gate 3*? Honestly, that’s a challenge I'm incredibly excited to see them try and meet. The gaming landscape is certainly better for having a studio like Larian pushing the boundaries, isn't it?

*** _This article is based on reporting by Ed Nightingale for Eurogamer, originally published on December 16, 2025. You can find the original report at Eurogamer's website._

Tags: Larian Studios, Divinity, RPG, Turn-Based Combat, Game Development

Original article: Eurogamer