Larian’s Next Epic: A New Divinity Bigger Than Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian Studios has officially turned its gaze back to its homegrown fantasy universe with a brand-new Divinity role-playing game. After the global success of Baldur’s Gate 3, the studio is not downsizing. In fact, it is promising something even more ambitious: a game set in Rivellon that is larger in scope than BG3 and positioned as Larian’s biggest project to date.

Drawing inspiration from the source article, this guide unpacks everything currently known and reasonably inferred about the new Divinity: its setting, gameplay direction, production scale, and what this shift means for fans of both Divinity: Original Sin and Baldur’s Gate 3.

Back to Rivellon: Why Larian Is Returning to Divinity Now

For years, the Divinity series has been central to Larian’s identity. From the early isometric titles to the breakthrough success of Divinity: Original Sin and Original Sin 2, Rivellon is where Larian experimented with systemic combat, reactive storytelling, and co-op play. After several years immersed in the Dungeons & Dragons universe with Baldur’s Gate 3, the studio is now using that experience to reimagine its own IP.

The new game, titled simply Divinity, is set once again in the world of Rivellon. Official information confirms that it is part of the same larger series, but not a direct continuation called “Original Sin 3.” Instead, Larian is framing it as a fresh starting point that respects the series’ legacy while inviting newcomers in.

• Setting: The fantasy realm of Rivellon, rich with gods, magic, and political intrigue.
• Series position: A new numbered entry in the wider Divinity franchise, but not branded as Original Sin 3.
• Design intent: Accessible to new players, with extra layers of meaning for veterans of previous Divinity titles.

This approach mirrors how other long-running series periodically re-centre themselves with soft reboots or new entry points, enabling the creators to re-establish tone and technology without discarding the past.

Bigger Than Baldur’s Gate 3: What “Even Larger” Really Implies

The most attention-grabbing claim about the new Divinity is that it will be even larger than Baldur’s Gate 3. Coming from a studio whose last game is famous for its vast questlines and branching narratives, this is a bold statement. While Larian has not published a detailed feature list, the phrase “bigger” in modern RPGs usually has several dimensions:

Given the size of Larian’s current staff—reported to be around 500 employees working on Divinity as of early 2026—the claim of greater scale is backed by a concrete increase in manpower. This fits broader industry trends; large narrative games are increasingly team-intensive, with long development cycles and complex asset creation pipelines.

Core Gameplay: Turn-Based Roots and Experimental Ambition

While the reveal trailer leaned heavily on cinematic storytelling, Larian has indicated that the new Divinity will remain a turn-based role-playing game. This aligns with the studio’s move to fully turn-based combat in Divinity: Original Sin, Original Sin 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3, a direction that has resonated with both critics and players.

Turn-Based Combat as a Design Pillar

Turn-based systems give Larian space to emphasize tactics, environmental interactions, and systemic chaos. In previous games, players could electrify blood pools, freeze surfaces, stack barrels, and engineer elaborate ambushes. The new Divinity is likely to preserve this philosophy while refining pacing and clarity, reflecting feedback from BG3’s global player base.

Expect key elements such as:

• Gridless, position-based combat with an emphasis on terrain and height.
• Combo-driven abilities that reward clever sequencing of elements and debuffs.
• Party-based tactics where synergizing builds matters more than individual power.

Single-Player and Co-op, Again

Larian has also confirmed that the new Divinity will support both solo play and cooperative multiplayer. This dual focus has been central to the studio’s identity: Divinity games are designed to be fully playable alone but gain a unique flavour when experienced with friends.

Features that co-op fans are likely to see return or expand include:

• Drop-in/drop-out multiplayer where friends can control different party members.
• Dialog participation systems that allow multiple players to weigh in on story choices.
• Co-op exploration with players splitting up to tackle different objectives simultaneously.

Balancing narrative coherence with player autonomy is a complex design challenge, but it has become a hallmark of Larian’s RPGs and a key part of their appeal.

Technology Leap: A New Version of Larian’s Engine

Alongside the game announcement, Larian has noted that Divinity is being built on a new version of its proprietary engine. Rather than switching to a third-party solution like Unreal Engine, the studio continues to invest in its own tech stack. This approach offers greater control over systems but also demands long-term engineering investment.

A modern CRPG engine must handle:

• Large, interconnected environments with verticality.
• Complex physics and environmental interactions.
• Branching quest logic and dynamic dialogue systems.
• High-fidelity cinematics and performance capture.

The decision to iterate on their in-house engine reflects a broader industry pattern where long-running studios rely on customized technology to support their specific game design styles. For Larian, that means reinforcing the pillars of simulation-driven gameplay and reactive storytelling.

Early Access Once More: Iteration as a Development Strategy

Larian has confirmed that, like Divinity: Original Sin and Baldur’s Gate 3, the new Divinity will debut in early access before a full launch. This is more than a marketing tactic; it is a core part of how the studio develops its systems.

Why Early Access Works for Larian

Early access allows Larian to gather direct feedback on everything from combat balance to UI clarity. Over the past decade, player feedback during these periods has led to major revisions of progression systems, skill trees, and story beats. Academic research on user involvement in game development supports the idea that participatory design can improve player satisfaction when managed carefully.

Typical benefits for this kind of RPG include:

• Real-world balance testing across thousands of unique builds and party compositions.
• Performance and stability insights on a wide range of hardware configurations.
• Discovery of emergent exploits that designers may choose to prune or embrace.

For players, early access offers a chance to shape the game while accepting that content will be incomplete, and major features may change before the final release.

Continuity and Fresh Starts: How It Connects to Earlier Divinity Games

One of the most interesting aspects of the new Divinity is its position as both a continuation and a new beginning. Larian has described it as a game that does not require prior knowledge of the series but will offer extra depth for long-time fans.

What Returning Players Might Recognize

Veterans of Divinity: Original Sin and Original Sin 2 can likely expect:

• Recurring themes of godhood, fate, and moral ambiguity.
• Factions and cultures that have evolved but remain recognizable within Rivellon.
• Design DNA—from environmental puzzles to object manipulation—that clearly descends from earlier titles.

What Newcomers Can Expect

On the other hand, the game’s new branding and narrative framing suggest a story designed to stand on its own. New players should be able to jump straight into Divinity without playing the previous six entries, much as many people enjoyed BG3 without prior experience of the original Baldur’s Gate games.

This strategy reflects a broader trend in long-running franchises: “soft resets” that respect established canon while minimizing homework for new audiences.

Larian After Baldur’s Gate 3: Lessons and Expectations

The shadow of Baldur’s Gate 3 looms over any discussion of Larian’s future. BG3 was both a critical and commercial hit, widely praised for its narrative reactivity, party dynamics, and scope. Industry analysts have highlighted it as a case study in how deep systems and strong writing can still succeed in a landscape dominated by live-service titles.

With Divinity, Larian faces a unique challenge: can it match or exceed the expectations set by BG3 while working without the built-in recognition of the D&D brand? Several factors suggest that the studio is positioning itself to do so:

• A much larger internal team than in the Original Sin era.
• Experience in cinematic storytelling and performance capture, developed during BG3.
• A refined early access process informed by multiple previous releases.

At the same time, the new Divinity provides Larian the freedom to define its own rules, mechanics, and lore without reference to an external tabletop system. This creative autonomy can enable bold decisions that would not fit cleanly under the D&D ruleset.

What This Means for CRPG Fans and the Genre

The announcement of a massive, turn-based Divinity arriving in the wake of BG3 sends a strong signal about the health of the computer role-playing game (CRPG) genre. For years, traditional CRPGs were considered niche compared to action-heavy RPGs. Today, the success of Larian’s recent titles suggests that audiences are ready to invest in complex systems and slow-burn narratives when they are presented with modern production values.

Divinity’s development hints at several broader trends:

• Systemic design is here to stay: Players increasingly expect games to react meaningfully to their decisions and experimentations.
• Co-op story campaigns have an audience: Larian’s persistence with multiplayer storytelling has carved out a dedicated fanbase.
• Early access can be a virtuous cycle: When managed transparently, it helps refine complex games rather than simply monetizing unfinished work.

In this context, the new Divinity is more than a sequel; it is a statement about where Larian believes the RPG genre can go next.

Key Facts So Far: Quick Reference

• Title: Divinity (working/official title as announced)
• Developer / Publisher: Larian Studios
• Genre: Turn-based role-playing game (CRPG)
• Setting: Rivellon, the long-standing Divinity universe
• Scale: Described as Larian’s biggest game yet, even larger than Baldur’s Gate 3
• Play Modes: Single-player and cooperative multiplayer
• Technology: Built on a new version of Larian’s proprietary engine
• Development Model: Planned early access release before full launch
• Team Size: Approximately 500 staff working on the project as of early 2026

FAQs About the New Divinity RPG

Is the new game Divinity: Original Sin 3?

No. Larian has positioned the project as a new Divinity entry set in Rivellon but not explicitly titled Original Sin 3. It builds on that legacy while acting as a fresh starting point.

Do I need to play the older Divinity games first?

Based on Larian’s descriptions, you should be able to start with this new Divinity without prior experience. That said, players familiar with earlier titles will likely notice callbacks, recurring themes, and deeper contextual details.

Will the game use turn-based combat?

Yes. The new Divinity is confirmed to be a turn-based RPG, continuing the combat style established in Divinity: Original Sin, Original Sin 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3.

Is there multiplayer co-op?

Yes. Larian plans to support both single-player and cooperative multiplayer, consistent with its previous games in the Divinity line.

Will it launch in early access?

Yes. Larian has stated that the new Divinity will first release in early access, allowing the studio to gather feedback and iterate on systems and content before full launch.

How big is the team working on Divinity?

Reports indicate that around 500 employees at Larian Studios are currently working on the project, making it the company’s largest production so far.

When is the release date?

No specific release date has been announced. Given the scale of the project and the planned early access phase, players should expect a staged rollout rather than a sudden full launch.