In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke provided some context behind the studio’s decision to move away from the Dungeons & Dragons universe for their upcoming game. Vincke explained that while developing Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian worked hard to balance the D&D rulebook with the new player experience, but it was a very complicated process. He described it as a “very, very, very complicated and very fine line to walk,” and added that for their next game, they would like to avoid having such complicated rules.

Vincke’s comment about the challenges of balancing the D&D rulebook suggests that working within an established universe such as D&D can limit a studio’s creative freedom. Vincke’s clarification that the decision to move away from D&D was not due to any issues with the publisher Wizards of the Coast, who “did their best” and “have been a great licensor for us,” reinforces this idea.

Vincke also revealed that Larian has two projects in mind, one of which will bring them closer to the “very big RPG” of their dreams, but it’s not the RPG that will dwarf them all. This suggests that Larian’s upcoming game will be a stepping stone towards a larger project in the future.

Interestingly, Vincke’s comment that the next project will be “new in the sense that it is different from the things that we’ve done before” but “familiar enough, but different” raises questions about what Larian has in store for their fans. Vincke’s statement suggests that Larian’s next project will feature new gameplay mechanics and a fresh take on the RPG genre, while still retaining the studio’s signature style.

Overall, Vincke’s comments suggest that Larian prefers to work within their own universe to avoid certain limitations and restrictions that come with working within an established universe such as D&D. It’s clear that Larian is committed to creating ambitious RPGs that push the boundaries of the genre, and their upcoming project looks set to be another innovative addition to their impressive portfolio.

Regardless, all eyes are certainly on Larian Studios at the moment. Not only did Baldur’s Gate 3 sweep many 2023 Game of the Year awards ahead of considerable competition but Larian has been outspoken about issues in the video game industry and how major companies need to do better by their employees. As such, we’re all eager to see not just what universe Larian builds next but how they choose to approach their ambitious plans within the confines of a clearly struggling industry.