(Image credit: Larian Studios)
As Larian Studios puts the finishing touches on the eagerly awaited Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3, CEO Swen Vincke addresses the gaming world’s concerns about the future of single-player games. He reassures us that these games are not “dead” at all.
In a recent online post, Vincke emphasized the importance of quality over conjecture. He urges the gaming community to “use your imagination” and recognize that single-player games remain vibrant, provided they are executed well. “That time of the year again when big single-player games are declared dead,” he remarks. “Use your imagination. They’re not. They just have to be good.”
Vincke’s insights resonate even more in today’s era, which is arguably producing some of the finest RPGs. From Larian’s own 2023 hit to recent releases like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and favorite picks such as Metaphor: ReFantazio, the single-player domain is thriving. Additionally, Obsidian Entertainment has enchanted audiences with Avowed, described by our review as filling “a first-person void” within the genre.
The roadmap for Larian Studios extends beyond Baldur’s Gate 3. Once Patch 8 is delivered, the studio is channeling its “full attention” towards its next RPG project. While this won’t be Baldur’s Gate 4, Vincke’s comments don’t rule out the possibility of a sequel, especially as Hasbro, the company behind Dungeons & Dragons, discusses potential collaborations for future installments of the beloved series.
Complementing the excitement is the impressive animation work in Baldur’s Gate 3, which has enthralled the Larian team. It even prompted one developer to assert that a “mature” treatment of the RPG animation “would pop the f*** off,” signaling enthusiastic innovation in their visual storytelling.