Well, well, well — look who went and turned the RPG world on its head. Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t casually stroll into the halls of gaming greatness; it charmed the door off its hinges, patched things up, and then insisted on giving players 200 hours of dice-chucking chaos. For those who sat through years of early access, watching the thing become a cultural phenomenon felt like watching a friend win the lottery after years of buying suspicious scratch cards. And now that Larian Studios has bagged the big prize, everyone wants to know: what’s next? The answer, it turns out, is wrapped in a delightful amount of secrecy.
At the 2024 SEA Game Awards, while picking up a Special Recognition Award and probably wondering where they’d left their potions, Larian boss Swen Vincke let slip a rough date for the studio’s next project: somewhere around 2028 or 2029. Cue the collective sharp intake of breath. Before anyone could start a doomsday countdown, however, he swooped in with the classic developer promise: “We’ll release it when it’s ready.” Translation: don’t hold your breath, don’t set an alarm, and absolutely do not email them every Tuesday for a status update.
That timeline might sound painfully far off — this is a studio whose previous game took over half a decade to brew — but for Larian, 2028 or 2029 actually represents impressively quick work. Their games have the production value of a Hollywood blockbuster, the word count of a fantasy novel series, and the branching choices of a Choose Your Own Adventure book written by someone with commitment issues. Getting all that done in just a few years is practically speed-running.
The GTA 6 Barometer
For comparison, take the endless saga that is Grand Theft Auto. GTA 6 finally got its official announcement in December 2023 after years of leaks that ranged from believable to absolutely unhinged. Announcement-to-release gaps of two years or more are standard for modern mega-productions, and Larian’s pattern isn’t too different. If their proposed timeline holds, savvy players might expect to hear about the new project by 2026 — possibly even earlier if Larian decides to roll out another early access shindig. As of 2026, that promised reveal window is wide open, though Larian remains as tight-lipped as a secret-keeper under a geas. Baldur’s Gate 3 itself dipped into early access in October 2020, a good three years before its true debut. That player-feedback fiesta clearly worked wonders, so there’s every chance the studio lets its next baby out for an open house too.
No DLC, No Dragon, No Problem
Here’s the kicker: Larian has already confirmed that this mystery project will not be Baldur’s Gate 4, nor will there be a DLC continuation. They’re stepping away from Dungeons & Dragons territory and wandering off toward new horizons. It’s a bold move, sort of like finishing a five-star meal and then immediately abandoning the restaurant to go cook something entirely different. Fans might shed a tear into their dice trays, but the studio has form here. Previous triumphs like Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 show that Larian can craft enormous worlds without needing a well-known licence attached. If anything, the lack of dragons might just mean more time to invent something gloriously weird.
Patches Will Get Cozy With Mods
In the meantime, Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t exactly being left out in the rain. Patch 7 added a generous helping of shiny content — including fresh evil endings for those Dark Urge enthusiasts and extra romance moments for Wyll, because even the palest tiefling deserves a bit of love. That said, Larian has admitted that only a small team remains devoted to the CRPG’s updates. Those patches will likely arrive with the frequency of a slow-cooked stew rather than a microwave dinner as the next project looms ever closer. Players who want their Forgotten Realms fix will therefore turn to mods, custom campaigns, and the eternal charm of busywork in the Lower City. It’s not quite goodbye; it’s more of a “see you in the Nexus.”
So grab your favourite d20, soothe your inner completionist, and remember that good things come to those who wait. Larian’s next opus may be cooking somewhere in the studio’s digital kitchen, seasoned heavily with feedback and playtests. Around 2028 or 2029 — or perhaps on a random Tuesday in 2030 — that mystery dish will finally hit the table. Until then, fans would be wise to save their progress, make backups, and treat every leaked rumour like a goblin selling bridges. If there’s one thing Larian has proven, it’s that the best adventures are never in a hurry.