Marching Forward – Larian Studios Expands to Warsaw

In the current games industry climate, closures and layoffs have been abundant. That said, some companies have (so far) been able to weather the storm fairly well. Larian Studios, the developers behind the universally acclaimed Baldur’s Gate III, is one such company. On Monday, Larian Studios announced their intentions to open a new Studio in Warsaw on X.

Industry Resilience – Larian Expands

Larian’s post also mentioned two “very ambitious” RPGs in development. From what Larian has stated publicly, neither of them will be a continuation of Baldur’s Gate III. In March, Larian Studios Founder Swen Vincke announced the game would not be receiving a sequel or DLC. This strategy shift was surely made to avoid IP burnout and expand creatively.

Larian moving away from Baldur’s Gate, and expanding operations to do so, is a commendable endeavor. The opening of a new Warsaw studio shows just how serious they are about pursuing new ideas. CD Projekt Red, also based in Warsaw, made a similar move as they opened a Boston location in 2022. Both RPG powerhouses should be watched closely in the years to come.

Closing Thoughts

Well, what is Larian cooking, if not a sequel to their award-sweeping behemoth? I’d like to think they’re focusing on two completely new IPs. Their Divinity franchise is different from Baldur’s Gate but is still set in the fantasy genre. I’d love to see them try their hand at a new genre entirely.

Imagine a turn-based RPG set in the Wild West, or perhaps something in the Golden Age of Piracy? No matter what setting they choose, fans will expect a certain standard of quality and care that was experienced previously.

With time, we’ll all see what comes out of Larian’s game development kitchen. The Warsaw studio is just one of now seven pieces in a much bigger machine. The two “very ambitious” RPGs will undoubtedly be victims of the industry’s rumor mill for the foreseeable future.

Based on the company’s recent success, gamers will surely be in for a treat when Larian decides to share further details.