Divinity by Larian Studios: the most ambitious return of the RPG saga

The enigma of the unsettling demonic statue in the middle of the Mojave Desert It already has a first and last name: Larian Studios and its Divinity sagaAfter weeks of theories, leaks, and speculation on social media, the Belgian studio has taken advantage of The Game Awards 2025 to unveil their next big project role, a title that revives the name that started it all and aims to be one of the most ambitious RPGs of the coming years.

The developer, now widely known for the success of Baldur's Gate 3, looks once again towards its own universe with a game simply called Divinity. No release date or platforms confirmed.But it did send a clear message: It will be his biggest work to date, with a particularly dark atmosphere, touches of horror and a very raw tone that It has already sparked debate among fans to the classic role in Spain and the rest of Europe.

A gory trailer, a statue in the desert, and the birth of Hellstone

The whole mystery began with a pointed monolith in the Mojave Desertcrowned by an enormous orb in the form of an eye and surrounded by demonic creatures. Geoff Keighley, presenter and producer of The Game AwardsHe used the statue as bait on social media, fueling all sorts of theories: from a new God of War set in Egypt to an expansion of Diablo IV or even The Elder Scrolls VI.

Reality has turned out to be much closer to classic role-playing on PC: The statue and its iconography were linked to the new DivinityKeighley himself, after showing the trailer at the gala, also revealed a key detail of the video: the portal and the monument that appear are called Hellstone, an element that is expected to have a central role in the narrative of the new game.

The movie trailer doesn't delve into game systems, but it clearly establishes the tone: Dark fantasy, explicit violence, and very disturbing imageryIt depicts a kind of pagan medieval celebration culminating in an old man chained inside an effigy. wicker manThe figure is set on fire amidst music and screams, and the sequence revels in gory details: the flesh of the sacrificed person melts, blood soaks the ground, and from that earth plants begin to sprout that shriek unnaturally while the statue seems to come to life.

The video ends and the title appears. DivinityWithout subtitles or numbers. It's unclear whether this is a prequel, a reinterpretation of the universe, or a spiritual sequel, but the visual message is powerful: Larian seeks a return to its roots, with a more sinister atmosphere than many associated with the Original Sin saga..

The official confirmation: the Divinity that Larian always wanted to make

Once the curtain rose at The Game Awards, Larian Studios confirmed what many had suspected since the leaks of trademarks registered in Europe. The company filed Divinity as a completely new and independent gamewhich does not require having played previous titles from the studio. However, those who have already played Divinity: Original Sin y Divinity: Original Sin 2 They will find nods, connections, and a deeper understanding of their world.

Geoff Keighley emphasized on stage that this new Divinity is the biggest video game ever developed by LarianEven surpassing Baldur's Gate 3, a title already renowned for its colossal scale and density of content, we're talking about a project poised to be one of the most expansive and complex RPGs of the last decade.

The studio's founder and director, swen vinckeHe reinforced that idea in statements that have caused quite a stir among role-playing fans: he asserted that, despite the studio's long history with the saga, This is the first time they've developed a game simply called DivinityAccording to him, the team is concentrating everything they have learned over the years into a single project, something he defines as the most extensive, profound, and intimate thing they have created so far.

Vincke described this new game as “the Divinity we always wanted to make”It's a kind of culmination of two decades of experimentation with the RPG genre. Without going into specific gameplay details, he hinted that the intention is to condense the experience accumulated from Divine Divinity, through the Original Sin duology, to the recent success of Baldur's Gate 3.

Leaks, European brands and Spain's role in Larian's expansion

The announcement didn't come as a complete surprise to those who closely follow the role-playing scene in Europe. Days before the gala, it was detected in European databases. the registration of a new Divinity logo and two additional symbolsThe applications, dated December 9, were represented by the same law firm that manages other Larian brands on the continent, which raised alarms in the community.

One of those symbols perfectly matched the central image of the mysterious Mojave Desert statue that Keighley had been circulating since late November. The connection between the demonic pillar, the European trademarks, and the law firm's history pointed all the way to a new [unclear/unclear/etc.]. game from the Divinity sagaFrom then on, forums and networks were filled with theories, many of them focused on the possibility of a Divinity: Original Sin 3.

At the same time, Europe was key not only because of the trademarks, but also because of the very structure of the study. Larian Studios has grown enormously since the last Divinity and currently has offices in seven countries, including several in Europe. It is particularly relevant for the Spanish public that, in 2021, the company opened an office in Barcelona, thus integrating Spain into its global network along with Dublin (Ireland), Warsaw (Poland), Guildford (United Kingdom), Quebec (Canada) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

This international expansion, with a solid presence in the European Union, partly explains the speed with which they are detected. Legal transactions and title registrations in European territoryThis has allowed players to anticipate announcements. The Divinity case is a good example of how a simple trademark filing can end up revealing one of the biggest bombshells of The Game Awards.

From speculation to reality: leaks, denials, and expectations

Before the official announcement, The atmosphere on social media was a mixture of hype and confusionOn the one hand, the community had detected the clue of Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition for next-generation consoles in several sources: first through the European PEGI system, which rated the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and then with the appearance of a specific version in the PlayStation Network backend, collected by the well-known user PlayStationSize.

This move reinforced the idea that Larian wanted to update the Original Sin saga in the current generationWith technical improvements such as 4K, 60 fps and reduced loading times, this is especially attractive to new fans who came with Baldur's Gate 3 and had not yet experienced the studio's previous big hit.

At the same time, rumors of a possible Divinity: Original Sin 3However, Larian's publishing director, Michael Douse (known as Cromwelp on X/Twitter), came out to temper expectations: he insisted that, at that time, There were no plans for a new Original Sin game.His statements cast doubt on the true nature of the surprise awaiting at The Game Awards, although some players suspected he might be diverting attention.

Interestingly, Douse himself reacted with a touch of irony to the leak of the PS5 version of Original Sin 2, responding with a “Hey, we shouldn't announce this yet."He didn't close the door on a relaunch, but he did make it clear that the studio's focus was on another, more significant project, something we now know was the new Divinity revealed at the gala."

Given this context, the community was debating several possibilities: a remaster for next-gen consoles, a spin-off, a numbered third installment, or a total reimagining of the universe. Finally, Larian has opted for a middle ground: a title that recovers the original name of the franchise, acts as gateway for new players And at the same time, it maintains a recognizable continuity for those who have been in Rivellon for years.

Divinity, Rivellon and a legacy that goes beyond Baldur's Gate 3

For those who only know Larian from Baldur's Gate 3, it's worth remembering that Divinity is the pillar that cemented the studio's reputationFrom its first installment, the series opted for a dense narrative, worlds full of meaningful decisions, and gameplay that combined exploration, experimentation, and combat with great freedom for the player.

The universe of the saga unfolds in RivellonRivellon, a fantasy world unique to Larian, shares traits with other classic settings like the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons, but also possesses a very distinct personality. Rivellon blends traditional fantasy troops (humans, elves, dwarves, humanoid lizards, undead) with touches of steampunk, science fiction and a certain absurd humor that draws from influences such as Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.

The franchise has explored different eras of that world throughout its six published games, from Divine Divinity (2002) and Beyond Divinity (2004), closer to the Diablo-style ARPG, up to titles like Divinity 2: Ego Draconis (2009), focused on third-person action, or Divinity: Dragon Commander (2013), which flirted with strategy.

The big leap in popularity, however, came with Divinity: Original Sin (2014) and especially with Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017), which They redefined the tactical role by turns. Thanks to deep systems, highly strategic combat, and a level of interaction with the environment that anticipated what we would later see in Baldur's Gate 3, the possibility of playing the entire campaign in co-op, as well as the multiple ways to solve encounters and missions, consolidated these games as benchmarks of the genre on PC and consoles.

A new entry point to the saga for players from Spain and Europe

One of the most relevant aspects of the announcement is that Divinity has been presented as a standalone gameIt's also designed for those who have never set foot in Rivellon. No prior experience with Divine Divinity, the Original Sin series, or previous action titles is required; Larian's goal is that any player who has come to the game through Baldur's Gate 3 can enter without feeling lost.

Even so, the study has made it clear that Those familiar with previous installments will enjoy a richer continuityThe series has always played with large time jumps between each game—sometimes decades or centuries—allowing for independent stories connected by a shared mythology. All signs point to the new title following this tradition, set at a point in the timeline that allows for the introduction of new characters and conflicts without breaking with the established lore built over more than twenty years.

For the Spanish and European public, this strategy fits with the current state of role-playing games in our territory: Baldur's Gate 3 has sparked interest in CRPGs And it has significantly expanded the player base that is willing to tackle complex systems, moral dilemmas, and lengthy campaigns. A new, well-localized Divinity, with native versions on next-gen consoles and a solid distribution across Europe, has the potential to definitively establish Larian as one of the leading studios beyond the PC.

Furthermore, having a headquarters in Barcelona facilitates potential collaborations, dubbing and specific support for the Spanish marketThis is increasingly important for players who demand high-quality translations and localizations in their language. While specific details are still lacking, it wouldn't be surprising if this new project focused heavily on the European market, which has already responded enthusiastically to the studio's latest releases.

With a trailer full of macabre symbolism, a marketing campaign based on a statue in the desert, and a string of registrations in Europe that have been revealing the studio's plans, Divinity has emerged as Larian's next big step after Baldur's Gate 3It will be a long-term project, with no confirmed date or platforms, but with the promise of bringing together everything learned in two decades of RPGs: a a world of its own like Rivellon, the depth of Original Sin, the scale of BG3, and a darker, more harrowing aestheticWe'll have to wait and see if this whole mix lives up to expectations, but Divinity's return has already earned its place among the most anticipated releases for players in Spain and across Europe.