Summary
- Larian Studios rose to fame with Baldur's Gate 3, leaving Divinity: Original Sin 3 fans in limbo for now.
- Fans eagerly await news on Divinity: Original Sin 3, but Larian may focus on expanding Baldur's Gate.
- Divinity: Original Sin 3 is likely in the works, but fans may have to wait longer due to Larian's evolving plans.
Larian Studios has become one of the hottest developers in the industry after the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3 earned the title multiple Game of the Year awards and garnered a new set of fans eager to see what the developer does next. While Baldur's Gate 3 continued the classic CRPG series based on the Dungeons and Dragons IP, Larian had initially earned notoriety from their Divinity: Original Sin titles that expanded the universe of the developer's Divinity series. However, now that Baldur's Gate 3 has become Larian's latest claim to fame, fans awaiting news about Divinity: Original Sin 3 may have to be patient for some time.
Although the Divinity series dates back to 2002 with the release of Divine Divinity, the series was really propelled into the mainstream with the release of Divinity: Original Sin in 2014, and its sequel in 2017. Despite not quite reaching the same levels of popularity as Baldur's Gate 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2 was still critically acclaimed and laid the groundwork for Baldur's Gate 3's success. However, now that Baldur's Gate 3 has been released, some fans are hoping to see a return to the Divinity series with Divinity: Original Sin 3.
The Unwritten Rules of Divinity: Original Sin 2 Explained
Fans of Baldur's Gate 3 will want to check out Larian's previous title, Divinity: Original Sin 2, which comes with its own set of unwritten rules.
Baldur's Gate 3's Success Puts Divinity: Original Sin 3 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
There are a lot of directions Larian can go with its next projects now that Baldur's Gate 3 has helped elevate the developer to new heights. It would make sense for Larian to capitalize on the recognizability of the Baldur's Gate IP and expand Baldur's Gate 3 with DLC or even begin development on Baldur's Gate 4. While Larian has shown that it is committed to player-first experiences, Wizards of the Coast, the IP holder for Dungeons and Dragons, might want the developer to continue their focus on Baldur's Gate while the series is in the mainstream spotlight.
However, a shift towards focusing on expanding the Baldur's Gate series could leave fans of the Divinity series in limbo waiting for the next entry in a series that has been put on the back burner. On the other hand, prioritizing Divinity: Original Sin 3 as the developer's next title could help get more attention on the lesser-known franchise, and Larian could take the lessons learned from Baldur's Gate 3's success to craft an even better entry in the Divinity series. There would likely still be some crossover between the two series' fan bases, given that the two share some similar mechanics, potentially setting Divinity: Original Sin 3 to be as successful as Baldur's Gate 3.
Divinity: Original Sin 3 is Likely Still a Ways Off
Regardless of what direction Larian Studios takes with its next project, fans waiting for Divinity: Original Sin 3 will likely have to wait a little while longer. Larian founder Swen Wicke has commented on the future of the Divinity series, stating that Divinity: Original Sin 3 is going to happen, but the team will be taking a much-needed break after Baldur's Gate 3. The talented developers at Larian definitely deserve a break after the back-to-back releases of Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, but this does mean fans are likely looking at a longer development time for Divinity: Original Sin 3.
Recent job listings suggest that Larian is expanding its team after the success of Baldur's Gate 3, which likely opened new opportunities for growth. Part of this expansion could be the developer preparing to juggle both Baldur's Gate and Divinity: Original Sin 3, allowing for some teams to work on future DLC for Baldur's Gate 3 while work begins on Divinity: Original Sin 3 simultaneously. Although none of Larian's future plans have been confirmed, they will likely include further development of both of these series.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
