According to GameSpot, Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke has strongly indicated the studio’s next game, a new Divinity title, will likely launch into early access first, following the blueprint of Baldur’s Gate 3. Vincke told GamesRadar that community participation during early access was crucial for Divinity: Original Sin 1, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3, with players being “a large part” of how those games were developed. He admitted the process is “painful for the developer” as it requires swallowing pride, but argued it “leads to a better game.” Baldur’s Gate 3, which sold over 20 million copies according to Bloomberg, began its early access period in August 2020, with its first act available for nearly three years before the full release in August 2023. Vincke claims the new Divinity game will be better than Baldur’s Gate 3 “on all fronts,” and the studio is using generative AI to handle boring work, a move at least one former developer has criticized.
The Early Access Playbook
Here’s the thing: Larian isn’t just sticking with early access because it’s trendy. They’re doubling down on it as a core, non-negotiable part of their development philosophy. And honestly, you can’t argue with the results. Baldur’s Gate 3 wasn’t just a hit; it was a cultural phenomenon that defined 2023. A huge part of its polish came from three years of players relentlessly testing Act 1, reporting bugs, and giving feedback on systems. Vincke basically admits it’s a brutal process of constant public critique. But he frames that pressure as a positive force that ultimately forces the team to make the right calls, even when it hurts.
The AI Elephant in the Room
Now, the more controversial bit is the generative AI. Vincke pitches it as a tool to free developers from “boring work that nobody wants to do,” giving them more time for creative concepts. That sounds great in a press release. But the pushback from that former developer, who said Larian should show employees “some respect,” points to a real tension in the industry. Is this AI use genuinely augmenting creativity, or is it the first step toward a different kind of “boring work”—like cleaning up AI-generated messes? It’s a gamble. Larian’s community trust is sky-high right now. Using AI in a way that feels exploitative or opaque could damage that hard-won goodwill faster than any buggy game launch.
What It Means For Players and Developers
For players, this is mostly good news. You get to play the game years earlier, and your feedback directly shapes the final product. You’re not just a customer; you’re a collaborator. But it also means buying into an unfinished vision and trusting Larian to execute. For other developers, the pressure is on. Larian’s success makes this long, transparent, community-driven early access period look like a winning strategy for massive RPGs. Can anyone else afford to spend three years polishing one act in public? It requires a rare combination of financial runway, confident design, and a thick skin. Most studios would probably crack under the pressure.
The Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadow
And that’s the final challenge, right? Vincke says the new Divinity will be better “on all fronts” than Baldur’s Gate 3. That’s a wild promise to make. BG3 set a new bar for production value, player freedom, and narrative depth in the genre. Topping it is the studio’s own goal. The early access model might be their secret weapon to get there, using the community as a massive QA and focus group. But it also sets expectations stratospherically high from day one. Every glitch, every unbalanced skill, every piece of awkward dialogue in those early builds will be dissected with the question: “Is this better than BG3?” The development pain Vincke talks about is about to get a whole lot more intense.
