Larian Studios has given fans a glimpse into the future, hinting that their next game will be massive, but will need extensive development time. This tease came in a Christmas video featuring all their studios worldwide.
In the video, Senior Communications Developer Aoife Wilson presents a large gift labeled "Larian's Next Game." Before she can reveal more, Larian CEO Swen Vincke playfully intervenes, stating:
"Oh no, you don't! No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Sorry, sorry about that. No, this thing, it needs a lot more time in the oven. By the time it's going to be finished, it's going to be so big! For the time being you're going to have to wait."
A Long Development Cycle
This early tease is notable, especially considering Larian released Baldur's Gate 3 in August 2023 and announced they wouldn't do DLCs or a sequel in March. Furthermore, Vincke previously suggested the next title might not be ready until 2029, though he later clarified this was a throwaway comment and Larian wasn't bound to that timeline.
It's clear that significant development time is required. Baldur's Gate 3 was revealed before E3 2019 and didn't fully launch until over four years later. This new project, from the sound of it, will be similarly ambitious and will take time as AAA game development times continue to grow.
Early Access Potential
This early tease could indicate that the next project will be released in early access, like Baldur's Gate 3. While this won't shorten the full release timeframe, it would provide players with an early version sooner, possibly in the next two to three years.
Baldur's Gate 3 Updates
In the meantime, Larian fans can look forward to updates for Baldur's Gate 3, including cross-play, a built-in Photo Mode, and twelve new subclasses.
For now, patience is key. While we wait, check out Larian's Advent Calendar Web game for some fun.
