For many,Baldur’s Gate 3was their first introduction to CRPGs. Games like this andDisco Elysiumoffered so much quality, style, and approachability to make the genre feel like something anyone could jump into and fall in love with. However, while a sequel to Disco Elysium is painfully not in the cards, most others have turned their attention to Baldur’s Gate 4 as something to look forward to.
The thing is,we’ve known for a while that Larian won’t be handling the D&D-based follow-up. Sure, there could be a Baldur’s Gate 4 one day -Wizards of the Coast isn’t known to leave any potential money on the table- but this isn’t where our anticipation should be placed right now. Instead, people should turn their attention to Larian, and more specifically, Divinity: Original Sin 3.
Divinity: Original Sin Is The (Divinity) OG
While there have been five mainline Divinity games going as far back as 2002, 2014’s Divinity: Original Sin and 2017’sDivinity: Original Sin 2are crowning achievements of the series, and Baldur’s Gate 3 shows the heights it could now reach if Larian returned to it.
Because Divinity: Original Sin doesn’t use D&D 5E for its mechanics, there are slight differences in how combat and actions work, but ultimately, there are a lot of similarities between the two games. I’d still strongly recommend thatanyone who enjoyed Baldur’s Gate 3 go and at least play Divinity: Original Sin 2, as, even in the shadow of Baldur’s Gate 3, it remains one of Larian’s best works.
To this end, I’m all for being excited about a potential Baldur’s Gate 4 one day -especially if the cast return to play their characters once more- but when we know Larian is placing its efforts elsewhere, there’s a lot more to be excited about when it comes to the potential of Original Sin 3.
Whatever Comes Next, Larian Knows What It’s Doing
I’ll admit that thinking the next game Larian is working on is Divinity: Original Sin 3 is a bold assumption, so I’m more than happy to be proven wrong. The studio’s next game could be something else within the Divinity universe, it could be a completely new IP to further expand the CRPG genre, or it could be a different type of game entirely. Quite frankly, I don’t care what it ends up being, because I have confidence in Larian to create something truly special no matter what.
In a world where companies will see a success and immediately rush in to capitalise on it with spin-offs, remasters, and rushed sequels, it’s refreshing to know that Larian decided to step away from Baldur’s Gate -including cancelling originally planned DLC- because the decision has been made with passion in mind, not profits. A studio rarely has the luxury to make that choice, and rarer still for any company to follow suit, so it’s not just a case of supporting Larian for the sake of how good Baldur’s Gate 3 was; we should support Larian because it’s an example of what can make this industry so special.
The love we all share for Baldur’s Gate 3 is valid, but while the potential for Baldur’s Gate 4 is an exciting prospect, I wish more people would anticipate the next entry in Larian’s other fantasy series.
