Larian Studios will make failure "more interesting" in Divinity to address one of Baldur's Gate 3's biggest player complaints. The studio revealed the approach during a Reddit AMA on January 9, 2026, where writing director Adam Smith confirmed the team is working to ensure failed outcomes provide compelling narrative branches.
Divinity, announced at The Game Awards 2025, returns to the Divinity: Original Sin universe and represents Larian's next major RPG following Baldur's Gate 3's 2023 Game of the Year win. The studio has sold over 20 million copies of Baldur's Gate 3, creating high expectations for its successor.
Smith explained that Divinity already contains "a couple of situations where the most exciting - and extensive - outcome comes from 'failure.'" This addresses the save-scumming phenomenon where Baldur's Gate 3 players frequently reloaded saves to retry failed dice rolls, fearing they would miss optimal story content.
Larian technical director Bert van Semmertier confirmed co-op multiplayer will launch with Divinity, though the exact player count depends on final party size. "There is no hard limit to the amount of co-op players," van Semmertier stated, noting that planned modding support will let players extend multiplayer functionality.
The studio also clarified its generative AI position after December controversy. CEO Swen Vincke stated "there is not going to be any GenAI art in Divinity" and that Larian will "refrain from using GenAI tools during concept art development." This follows backlash after Vincke told Bloomberg in December that the team used AI for early ideation stages.
Vincke emphasized that if Larian uses AI-generated assets, they would be "trained on data we own" with proper consent. The studio remains committed to human artists while exploring AI for speeding up development iterations across departments.
Platform support discussions revealed Larian will "certainly consider" a Switch 2 release for Divinity. The studio recently released Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Nintendo Switch 2 and expressed enthusiasm for the platform. Steam Deck support is also planned, building on Baldur's Gate 3's popularity on the handheld.
Gameplay details from the AMA include more character customization than Baldur's Gate 3, similar camera systems, and mod support. The story will feature tonal shifts and feel more grounded than previous Divinity titles, though players won't need to play earlier games to understand the narrative.
When asked for a cryptic spoiler, Smith simply replied "Alligator," leaving fans to speculate about potential alligator encounters, shapeshifting mechanics, or aquatic gameplay elements. Head of animation Greg Lidstone confirmed romantic content will return, responding to sex scene questions with "Does a bear... In the woods?"
No release window has been confirmed, but early access is expected no earlier than 2027, following Larian's pattern with Baldur's Gate 3. The studio faces increased pressure following its previous success, with Vincke previously stating Divinity aims to be better than Baldur's Gate 3 "on all fronts."
The Reddit AMA attracted thousands of questions over several hours, with Larian developers addressing concerns about AI ethics, platform availability, and gameplay improvements. The studio's transparency reflects its community-focused approach developed through years of early access development.
Industry analysts note Larian's AI clarification comes amid broader controversy, with games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 losing Indie Game Awards recognition over AI art usage. The studio's commitment to human-created assets while exploring AI for development efficiency represents a middle ground in ongoing industry debates.
Divinity's development continues in full production, with the team applying lessons from Baldur's Gate 3's critical and commercial success. The focus on making failure narratively rewarding addresses a core RPG design challenge while maintaining the choice-driven storytelling that defined Larian's previous titles.
