Games releasing in early access are still a relatively new phenomenon, and studios using them are experiencing varying degrees of success. One of the biggest games of the decade so far, Baldur's Gate 3 has been a huge success since its early access period, so it makes sense that Larian would aim to follow a similar path for Divinity.
In conversation with TheGamer's Jade King – you can check out the full interview here – Larian CEO Swen Vincke confirmed that the goal is for the newly revealed Divinity to launch in early access, but could not confirm whether that is the trajectory the studio's next project will take.
Divinity may release in Early Access, but don't get your hopes up.
“We want to release it in early access. That's our goal. The world changes, early access changes, and we don't confirm it because there's always a risk that it might not work the way we want it to. So we don't want to confirm it. But in general, that's our goal.” Vincke credits Baldur's Gate 3 with the success it enjoyed during early access.
One welcome problem with Divinity that Baldur's Gate 3 didn't suffer from is notoriety. While many were anticipating the release of the first new Baldur's Gate game in over 20 years, the 2023 Game of the Year didn't hit the mainstream until just before its official release. Thanks to its unexpected popularity, Larian is now a major player. That means all eyes will be on Divinity from the moment it launches, whether it's in early access or not.
Divinity will not just fill the shoes of Baldur's Gate 3, it will grow into something more.
Larian Studios has announced the successor to Baldur's Gate 3.
“This is one of the reasons why we have not confirmed our choice yet,” Vincke explained. “Probably our biggest fear is that it's too successful, because then people will be too disappointed. You want players who are ready for the early access experience to buy the game, and you don't want other people to join in yet. You just want them to wait until the game is finished.”
Divinity will have a pre-launch period unlike anything Larian has ever experienced.
It's a tricky tightrope to walk, and all things considered, it's a welcome problem, as it's something that's only come as a result of the studio's surge in popularity. If Divinity were released in Early Access, there would no doubt be some people complaining that it didn't feel finished yet. If Larian skips early access, not only will it take longer to play the next game, but it will also mean it won't have the benefit of pre-release tweaks and fixes that can help improve the final product.
Early access decisions will have to be made at some point, but they're probably off the priority list in the early stages of Divinity's development. Larian's admitted use of AI when exploring ideas in the early stages of development is now the hottest topic surrounding the new game, with some defending the confession while others have condemned it.
