Larian Studios Develops Two New Games Simultaneously
Larian Studios, the masterminds behind the critically acclaimed Baldur's Gate 3, are diving headfirst into uncharted territory. Instead of basking in the glory of their success, they're tackling the daunting task of developing two brand new games at the same time. And no, neither of them is Baldur's Gate 4!
Swen Vincke, the head honcho at Larian, has shed some light on their ambitious strategy. The core idea is to stagger the development process, ensuring that as one project nears completion, the other is just ramping up in pre-production. This clever approach aims to eliminate the dreaded downtime where talented animators, modelers, and other crucial staff members are left twiddling their thumbs while waiting for direction.
The goal is simple: keep the production pipeline flowing smoothly. As one team finalizes a game, another will be actively engaged in the pre-production phase of the next. Vincke acknowledges that the path won't be without its bumps. "In practice, we will probably be miserable," he admits, "and there's going to be plenty of stuff that went wrong." Honesty is the best policy, right?
A Balancing Act of Ambition
Vincke has described one of these mysterious projects as "crazy-ambitious" while also stating that it's "shaping up quite well, actually". However, juggling two complex games simultaneously presents its own unique set of challenges. Larian's games are known for their intricate systems, countless permutations, and the immense agency they grant to players. Balancing all of these moving parts across two projects is no small feat.
The motivation behind this parallel development strategy is to bypass the inefficiencies that arise from traditional sequential production cycles. When a large team finishes its work but the pre-production team isn't ready, it creates a bottleneck that can stall progress and lead to frustration. Larian wants to avoid this scenario at all costs.
With around 470 employees across seven studios worldwide, Larian is a sizable operation. Vincke hopes that this new approach will not only lead to a faster release cadence but also improve the quality of life for the developers by reducing ambiguity and fostering a more consistent workflow.
"I hope I can tell you five years from now: We cracked it. We figured it out," Vincke expressed. "This is what we're doing now. Here's game one, we're making this completely different thing. Game two, and when game two is going to be ready, we already have another thing that's gonna come. If we can make that work in a really good way, that we enjoy our lives, that's gonna be mission accomplished."
What Could These New Games Be?
Speculation is running rampant about the nature of these secret projects. A safe bet would be Divinity: Original Sin 3. However, the term "crazy-ambitious" suggests that Larian might be venturing into completely new territory. Are they crafting an RPG where you embody a vast ocean or the very concept of Wednesdays? Perhaps they're inventing an entirely new fantasy genre, one that defies easy categorization.
Whatever Larian has up its sleeves, one thing is certain: they're not afraid to push the boundaries of game development and strive for innovation. Keep an eye on this studio – they're bound to deliver something special.
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun