Did you know that Larian Studios could potentially create a AAA Fallout CRPG if they couldn’t secure the Baldur’s Gate 3 license from Wizards of the Coast? Larian CEO Swen Vincke revealed this possibility during an interview about the game’s development process.
Why did acquiring the Baldur’s Gate 3 license pose a problem?
The Belgium-based game studio attempted to acquire the Baldur’s Gate license in 2014 after releasing Divinity: Original Sin. Wizards of the Coast initially rejected their offer citing concerns about the studio’s lack of experience. The developer later impressed Wizards by sharing early access footage of their new game, Divinity: Original Sin 2, eventually securing the Baldur’s Gate 3 license.
During the period of licensing issues, the studio focused on Fallout and Ultima. Although they eventually acquired the license to the legendary game, things didn’t go smoothly afterward. According to Larian CEO Swen Vincke, the studio submitted a detailed design document to Wizards for Baldur’s Gate 3. However, their initial draft was not up to par.
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Due to their focus on Divinity: Original Sin 2, the team submitted a rather poor initial draft, prompting them to request additional time from Wizards. After negotiations, the team managed to create a game that would go down in history. The backup plans for Fallout and Ultima licenses were not pursued after this development. It seems unlikely that the developer will refocus on the licensing status of these games again. Currently, the studio is working on two new games, details of which may emerge soon.
