Well, well, well, the gaming world just got a whole lot more interesting in 2026. After months of whispers, teases, and a downright creepy statue popping up in the middle of the California desert, Larian Studios—the wizards behind the legendary Baldur's Gate 3—finally pulled back the curtain at The Game Awards 2025. The subject of all the fuss? A brand new game in the Divinity universe. The announcement trailer was a real head-turner, showing a festival that goes spectacularly, horrifically wrong, complete with a burning man and panicked crowds. Talk about a party foul. Larian, being the masters of suspense they are, kept their cards close to their chest, revealing no release date and leaving fans with one burning question hotter than that poor festival-goer: what on earth will this game actually play like?

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The internet, of course, erupted into a classic gaming debate. On one side, you have the camp that swears Larian will stick to what they know best: glorious, tactical, turn-based combat. On the other, folks are convinced this is a grand return to the series' action RPG roots. It's a proper civil war in the comments section, and honestly, you can see where both sides are coming from.

The Case for Turn-Based: Playing to Their Strengths

Let's be real, when it comes to turn-based RPGs, Larian isn't just good—they're the absolute masters. The Divinity: Original Sin duology redefined the genre for a modern audience, and Baldur's Gate 3? That game didn't just win awards; it practically vacuumed them all up, including the coveted Game of the Year crown in 2023. The studio has spent years perfecting this craft, creating deep, strategic systems that feel like playing a masterful game of chess, but with fireballs and witty banter.

  • Proven Track Record: Original Sin and BG3 were monumental successes, far outpacing the popularity of the original Divinity action games.

  • Genre Renaissance: Turn-based isn't just alive; it's thriving. Look at games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which broke records at award shows. The appetite for thoughtful, strategic combat is huge.

  • Unfinished Business: As analyst Synth Potato might muse, Larian learned so much from BG3. To walk away from that hard-earned expertise now would be... well, a bit daft, wouldn't it? They've got a winning formula, and the new Divinity is confirmed to be a "huge game." Why not build on the solid foundation of Original Sin and BG3?

It's the safe bet, the smart bet. They've got the golden touch with turn-based, and the fans are eating it up. Sticking to their guns seems like a no-brainer.

The Case for Action RPG: A Return to Roots

But hold on a second! Let's not forget where this all began. Before they were the kings of turn-based, Larian cut their teeth on action RPGs like Divine Divinity. Writer David Jagneaux makes a solid point: the core Divinity series started as an ARPG. The Original Sin games were technically spin-offs, albeit wildly successful ones. So, what if this new title is a homecoming?

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Imagine this: Larian takes all the narrative brilliance, world-building magic, and player agency they honed in Baldur's Gate 3 and pours it into a fast-paced, real-time action framework. They know how to tell a remarkable story, and coupling that with visceral combat could create something truly revolutionary. Content creator Neco42 might hope they don't stray, but sometimes you gotta shake things up!

  • Genre Fusion Potential: An ARPG with the depth of a Larian narrative? Sign us up. That's a combo with insane potential.

  • Evolved Skillset: They aren't the same studio they were 20 years ago. They'd be approaching action combat with a decade's worth of lessons in player choice, environmental interaction, and cinematic storytelling.

  • Surprise Factor: Everyone expects turn-based. Delivering a polished, deep ARPG could be the ultimate mic-drop moment.

So... What's the Verdict?

Honestly, your guess is as good as ours. The trailer gives us mood, atmosphere, and a hefty dose of body-horror statue weirdness, but zero gameplay hints. Larian has us all right where they want us: speculating wildly.

Argument For Turn-Based Camp Action RPG Camp
Larian's Legacy Masters of the genre post-BG3 Foundational experience with original Divinity games
Market Trend Genre is hotter than ever (e.g., Clair Obscur) Room for a story-heavy, AAA ARPG contender
The Safe Bet ✅ Play to proven strengths ❌ Risky but potentially groundbreaking
The Wild Card ❌ Could feel like "more of the same" ✅ A triumphant return to roots with modern flair

At the end of the day, whether it's the tactical pause of turn-based or the frantic click-fest of an ARPG, one thing is certain: Larian has earned our trust. They've shown they can craft worlds we get lost in and stories we care about. The gameplay, whatever form it takes, will likely be crafted with the same obsessive care. We'll just have to wait, patiently (or not so patiently), for them to finally spill the beans. The desert statue started the mystery, and only Larian holds the key to how it ends. Talk about a cliffhanger!