Two years have officially passed since the groundbreaking launch of Baldur`s Gate 3, a title that profoundly impacted the gaming industry. To commemorate this milestone, Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian Studios, has shared his reflections on the journey thus far and offered tantalizing hints about the acclaimed studio`s forthcoming endeavors.
Responding to a celebratory post on X (formerly Twitter), Vincke remarked, `It’s crazy to think it’s only been two years. It’s truly been life changing. Probably worth writing about one day. But I can spoil the biggest takeaway. BG3 was what allowed us to do our next crazy thing.`
While the developer stopped short of revealing specifics about the studio`s next major game, acknowledging that its release is likely still years away, Vincke confidently promised players an abundance of entertainment. He stated, `How that will pan out is anyone’s guess but I can assure you we’re working hard to ensure you’ll have plenty of fun. Like really – loads of it. In a surprising way. And I can’t wait to show you. But you’ll need to be patient / we’ll need a bit of time to make it all work. It’ll be worth it though.`
Larian has diligently kept its upcoming project, reportedly codenamed “Excalibur,” under wraps. However, the studio confirmed in January that this game is now receiving its “full attention.” A significant detail already known is that it will not be Baldur`s Gate 4.
Baldur`s Gate 3 was in early access for nearly three years before its official PC launch on August 3, 2023. Subsequently, the game was released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, accumulating numerous accolades. It famously clinched the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2023, among many other distinctions, including GameSpot`s own Game Of The Year title.
The most recent significant update for Baldur`s Gate 3, known as Patch 8, introduced a wealth of new content, including 12 additional subclasses, a dedicated photo mode, and cross-platform play functionality for multiplayer. Despite the game`s overwhelming popularity, Larian has made it clear that they are not interested in developing any downloadable content (DLC).
Addressing the decision against DLC, Vincke explained in an earlier interview with GameSpot: `You want a happy player and happy business, but you also need to have a happy developer. What we`re doing now makes developers way more happy. We had a huge hit, and people said `DLC this` and `DLC that,` and we said we`d make DLC, but then when we had a moment to think, we asked ourselves, `what are we doing?“ This sentiment underscores Larian`s commitment to developer well-being and creative fulfillment over prolonged engagement with existing titles through expansions.