Larian Studios
Larian Studios business and news from across the web.
What will another Obsidian Fallout game even look like all these years on? Here's my attempt to read the radioactive tea leavesFollowing reports of Obsidian Entertainment being redirected to work on a new Fallout game, this article speculates on what such a title might look like. It considers how the studio could innovate within the series, potentially by exploring new settings and gameplay mechanics, while acknowledging the influence of the recent Fallout TV show and other modern RPGs.
Hideo Kojima is "really sad" about PlayStation ending physical disc production, warns against "frightening" streaming-only future: "You don't actually possess the data yourself"Hideo Kojima expressed sadness and concern over Sony's decision to end new PlayStation physical disc production in 2028, warning of a "frightening" future dominated by streaming-only access. He highlighted concerns about data ownership and the potential loss of access to games and movies if servers are ever shut down or content is removed. Other developers, like Larian Studios, have also voiced disappointment with the move.
Hasbro should stop looking for a Baldur's Gate 4 studio and take a leaf out of Larian's book by trying…This opinion piece argues that Hasbro should not pursue a Baldur's Gate 4 and instead take inspiration from Larian Studios' approach to game development. The author suggests that the immense success and unique development path of Baldur's Gate 3 make it nearly impossible for any studio to replicate its quality or meet player expectations for a sequel. Instead, Hasbro should focus on nurturing talent and developing new IPs within the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse.
I love Baldur's Gate 3's queer representation, but triple-A games can still do so much more to explore lesbian stories with the depth they deserveThis article discusses the queer representation in Baldur's Gate 3, particularly focusing on lesbian stories and the limited options available in mainstream AAA games. While praising Baldur's Gate 3 for its characters like Shadowheart and the Isobel/Aylin romance, the author argues that games often fail to cater to a specific lesbian gaze, assuming lesbian sexuality aligns with heteronormative dynamics. The piece calls for more diverse and nuanced lesbian narratives in games, from indie titles to major blockbusters.
"Long live physical media": Devs and publishers of Baldur's Gate 3, Silksong, and more call Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation games "genuinely heartbreaking"Sony's decision to cease production of physical PlayStation game discs starting in 2028 has been met with dismay from developers and publishers. Many express sadness and a loss of desire to develop for the platform, citing the importance of physical media for preservation, collector value, and the joy it brings to players. Companies like Larian Studios, Lost in Cult, and Fangamer are particularly vocal about the impact on their work and their commitment to physical releases.
Baldur's Gate 2-veteran tackade nej till att göra Baldur's Gate 4James Ohlen, a veteran designer of Baldur's Gate 2, declined an offer from Hasbro to lead the development of Baldur's Gate 4. Ohlen cited concerns about failing to meet the high standards set by Baldur's Gate 3 and the significant time investment required for engine development. Larian Studios, the developer of Baldur's Gate 3, also chose to pursue their own original projects instead of a direct sequel.
Ground Branch, a first-person tactical shooter from an original Rainbow Six dev, is finally hitting v1.0 after eight years in early accessGround Branch, a realistic tactical shooter developed by BlackFoot Studios, is launching its version 1.0 after eight years in Early Access on July 16. The full release will include the long-awaited campaign, a new prologue, and an extraction mode. The developers plan to continue adding content post-launch, including single-player chapters and a mod kit.
Baldur's Gate 4 could've been headed by a Baldur's Gate 2 veteran, but the RPG legend "wouldn't want to compete" against Larian: "That would be insanity"James Ohlen, director of writing and design for Baldur's Gate 2, revealed that Hasbro approached him about developing Baldur's Gate 4. However, Ohlen declined, stating he would not want to compete with the success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and its proprietary engine. He believes a new entry would need to be highly original to succeed, acknowledging Larian's mastery in the RPG genre.
"I would fail, and here's why I would fail" Why Baldur's Gate 2 co-lead turned down Hasbro's request to make Baldur's Gate 4James Ohlen, co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 and lead at Archetype Entertainment, declined Hasbro's request to develop Baldur's Gate 4. Ohlen cited the immense success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and the technical challenges of replicating its engine and tools as reasons for his refusal, preferring to focus on his studio's upcoming game, Exodus.
12 Games Like Baldur's Gate 3 (Organized by What You Actually Loved) | TAGThis guide recommends games similar to Baldur's Gate 3, organized by what players enjoyed most, such as companions, tactical combat, or co-op. It highlights titles like Disco Elysium for narrative fans, Divinity: Original Sin 2 for tactical depth and co-op, and It Takes Two for pure cooperative experiences. Larian Studios is confirmed to be working on a new Divinity game, with a Baldur's Gate 3 TV series also in development.
"We're talking about at least half a decade of horror": former Exodus lead explains why he wasn't keen on doing a Baldur's Gate 4 despite Hasbro offering the chanceFormer Archetype Entertainment studio head James Ohlen explained his reluctance to develop Baldur's Gate 4, citing the immense pressure to match Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3. Ohlen stated that building the necessary tools and infrastructure from scratch would take at least five years and expressed concerns about competing with the high standard set by the previous game. He has since left Archetype due to burnout.- The Co-Lead Designer of Baldur's Gate 2 Turned Baldur's Gate 4 Down and I Don't Blame Him — Baldur's Gate 3 Is Pretty Much Impossible to FollowThe co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 has declined to work on Baldur's Gate 4, citing the immense success and high bar set by Baldur's Gate 3. This decision challenges the conventional industry practice of immediately greenlighting sequels to profitable titles, suggesting that Baldur's Gate 3's achievements make a direct follow-up exceptionally difficult.
Games Inbox: Will the PS6 really cost £1,000?Readers discuss concerns about the potential high price of the PlayStation 6, with some predicting it could exceed £1,000. The discussion touches on the rising costs of game development, the shift towards digital-only releases, and whether next-generation consoles offer enough compelling new features to justify such an expense.- QuoteworthyThe co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 was reportedly asked to develop Baldur's Gate 4, but declined the offer. They stated that competing against Larian Studios' highly successful Baldur's Gate 3 would be an insurmountable challenge.
Baldur's Gate 2's co-lead designer was asked to make Baldur's Gate 4 after Larian declined: 'Having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity'Following the success of Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro sought a sequel, but Larian Studios declined to develop Baldur's Gate 4, despite having a partially playable build. Co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2, James Ohlen, was also approached but refused, citing the difficulty of competing with Larian's acclaimed title and the significant effort required to build a new engine. A remaster of Baldur's Gate 2 is reportedly in development, with former BG2 lead designer Kevin Martens involved.
I picked out 31 must-play games going for $5 or less in the Steam Summer SaleThis article highlights 31 must-play games available for $5 or less during the Steam Summer Sale. The curated list includes a variety of genres such as RPGs and first-person shooters, with many titles developed by well-known studios like Larian and BioWare.
"Baldur's Gate 3 seems to have done it pretty well," but don't expect Obsidian's next story-based RPG to launch in early access, Grounded 2 lead suggestsObsidian Entertainment's Grounded 2 director Chris Parker stated that while Baldur's Gate 3's early access success is notable, it's not a model that will work for all story-based RPGs. He believes that for large, complex narrative games, the traditional development approach is more suitable, though he acknowledges exceptions exist and that early access can be beneficial for certain titles like the original Grounded.
Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 show "RPGs are as vibrant" now as ever, Obsidian lead says, even if the genre can look "a little tired" sometimesObsidian Entertainment's Chris Parker believes the RPG genre remains vibrant, citing Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as examples of its current excitement. Despite occasional perceptions of the genre looking 'tired,' Parker has faith in its continued evolution and diversity, highlighting Obsidian's own contributions like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2.
The creator of Ultima is reportedly reclaiming the series' rights back from EA, and it could happen as soon as next…Richard Garriott, the creator of the Ultima series, is reportedly set to reclaim the copyright to the franchise from Electronic Arts in 2027 due to a 35-year copyright reversion law. While EA will retain the trademark, Garriott plans to develop new titles under a name like "Lord British's Ultima".
Baldur's Gate 3 Path to Menzoberranzan custom campaign modders offer glimpse of their long-awaited demo level's "dark, ruined dungeon" as environments near completionModders working on the ambitious Baldur's Gate 3 custom campaign mod, Path to Menzoberranzan, have shared a progress update revealing that the demo level's environments are nearing completion. The team, comprising over 130 individuals, aims to release a demo level, described as a "dark, ruined dungeon" with "foul magic," potentially in the latter half of 2026, though the exact release window remains uncertain.