Larian Makes It Clear: Divinity Is Not Baldur’s Gate 4

🎮 A New RPG, Not Baldur’s Gate 4

Following the massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3, expectations around Larian Studios’ next project have been understandably high. With Divinity officially revealed at The Game Awards 2025, comparisons quickly began forming. Larian has now addressed those assumptions head-on, emphasizing that Divinity is not intended to be Baldur’s Gate 4 in disguise.

The studio acknowledges that BG3 set a new benchmark for role-playing games. However, rather than chasing that exact formula again, Larian is intentionally charting a different course. Divinity is being positioned as a standalone title designed to stand on its own identity rather than live in the shadow of past successes.

🧠 Larian’s Philosophy: Keep Things Fresh

In discussions following the reveal, Larian leadership explained that repeating the same ideas would drain both creativity and passion. While Divinity will retain turn-based combat, familiar to fans of the studio, the gameplay experience itself is being reworked to offer something genuinely new.

Key ideas behind this approach include:

Avoiding direct sequels that rely too heavily on previous systems
Introducing mechanics and experiences players haven’t seen in earlier Larian titles
Ensuring developers remain excited and emotionally invested in the project

This mindset extends beyond Baldur’s Gate 3. Divinity is not being framed as Original Sin 3 either, reinforcing Larian’s commitment to evolution rather than iteration.

🔄 Surpassing Expectations Instead of Repeating Them

Larian has made bold claims that Divinity could surpass its previous work. Rather than shrinking from the expectations BG3 created, the studio seems intent on exceeding them in new ways. By breaking from familiar patterns, Larian hopes to deliver a game that feels ambitious without feeling repetitive.

From a creative standpoint, this shift allows the team to:

Explore new narrative structures
Experiment with gameplay systems
Avoid player fatigue caused by overly familiar mechanics

This philosophy also aligns with Larian’s past comments about stepping away from Baldur’s Gate 4 due to burnout concerns, choosing instead to pursue projects that reignite enthusiasm within the studio.

⚖️ Comparisons Are Inevitable, But So Is Evolution

No matter how different Divinity becomes, comparisons to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 are unavoidable. That same pattern occurred when BG3 launched, as fans compared it heavily to earlier Divinity titles before it ultimately carved out its own legacy.

Larian now faces a similar challenge—but history suggests the studio is capable of overcoming it. If Divinity successfully establishes its own identity, those early comparisons may fade, just as they did before.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Divinity represents more than just Larian’s next RPG—it’s a statement of intent. By refusing to remake Baldur’s Gate 3 or lean on past formulas, the studio is betting on creativity, passion, and innovation. While expectations remain high, Larian’s track record suggests that giving players something new may once again pay off.