According to Polygon, Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke confirmed the studio will “most likely” release its next RPG, simply titled Divinity, in early access. The game was revealed at this year’s Game Awards and will be a turn-based RPG featuring multiplayer and a strong focus on player agency. Vincke pointed to the studio’s success with Baldur’s Gate 3, which launched its first act into early access in 2020. That process, where players helped tweak systems for three years before the full 1.0 launch in 2023, was “invaluable.” However, Vincke stopped short of a full commitment, citing uncertainty in the games industry. He also noted that while the team has an internal timeline, they won’t promise a release window because their “track record is so bad.”
Early access is the Larian way
Here’s the thing: this isn’t a surprise at all. Larian has basically built its modern reputation on this model, starting with Divinity: Original Sin back in 2014. For them, early access isn’t just a cash grab or a way to sell an unfinished product. It’s their primary development methodology. They throw a massive, complex RPG system out into the wild and let the most dedicated players break it, critique it, and help shape it. Vincke’s quote about players making the game “together with us” isn’t just PR fluff—if you followed Baldur’s Gate 3’s journey, you saw it happen in real time. Classes got rebalanced, UI got overhauled, and entire systems were refined based on a mountain of player data. It works for them. So why wouldn’t they do it again?
The risk of success
But there’s a hidden risk here, and it’s a big one: the weight of expectation. Baldur’s Gate 3’s early access was a phenomenon. It had the Dungeons & Dragons license, a beloved legacy, and it filled a huge void for deep, narrative-driven RPGs. Divinity doesn’t have that built-in brand rocket fuel in the same way. It’s returning to Larian’s own original universe. Will the same number of players be willing to buy in early and commit years of feedback? And more importantly, can the studio handle the sheer scale of feedback and hype that will now come standard? The spotlight is a thousand times brighter now. Every little bug or unbalanced skill will be a headline. The “player collaboration” vibe could quickly turn into “player entitlement” if not managed perfectly.
The vague timeline problem
Vincke’s comment about their bad track record on promises is a masterclass in managing expectations. It’s charmingly honest, but it also tells us not to hold our breath. We’re talking about a game that just got a reveal trailer. Even if it hits early access, that’s probably years away. Remember, Baldur’s Gate 3 was in early access for nearly three years. So, what does that mean for Divinity? A 2025 early access launch would be optimistic. A 2026 full release seems more plausible. In an industry that loves to rush things, Larian’s “we’ll get there when we get there” attitude is refreshing. But for fans? It’s going to be a long, quiet wait with very few updates. That’s the trade-off for their quality.
Can they capture lightning twice?
That’s the real question, isn’t it? Baldur’s Gate 3 was a perfect storm. Early access was a part of its success, but so was the IP, the cultural moment, and the clear gap in the market it filled. Divinity is walking a trickier path. It has to prove its own world and rules can be as compelling as D&D, without that decades-old scaffolding. Using early access again is the smart, proven play for Larian’s development style. But it also raises the stakes immensely. They’re not the underdog anymore. They’re the reigning Game of the Year champ. Everyone will be watching to see if their method was a one-time miracle or a repeatable formula for greatness. No pressure.
