It's 2026, and I still vividly remember the collective gasp that rippled through the online gaming community two years ago. We were all huddled around our screens, watching The Game Awards, arguing over cryptic teases. Was it the long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6? A new God of War epic? Or perhaps, a miracle—Half-Life 3? The speculation was wild, a digital campfire story we all shared. Then, the screen lit up, and there it was: Larian Studios was back. Not just back, but returning to its roots with a brand-new Divinity game. Geoff Keighley’s words still echo in my ears: "larger than Baldur's Gate 3." My heart skipped a beat. For me, this wasn't just a new game announcement; it was a homecoming.

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The marketing dance beforehand was pure, classic Larian—winking, playful, and just a little bit mischievous. When the trademark for a new Divinity title surfaced, Michael Douse, the studio's head of publishing, played it so cool, you know? He casually posted online that there were "no current plans" for a new game. And technically, he was telling the truth! They weren't planning a Divinity: Original Sin 3; they were crafting something new, something that dared to drop the "Original Sin" subtitle entirely. The studio’s official social media seemed to embrace the leak with a knowing smile, a shared secret between creators and fans. It felt like being let in on a glorious inside joke.

This decision to streamline the name felt like a warm, welcoming hand extended to the legions of new adventurers who first fell in love with Larian's genius through Baldur's Gate 3. The studio is clearly hoping to ferry all of us from the Sword Coast straight to the wondrous, weird shores of Rivellon. And what shores they are! The trailer promised a return to a world teeming with life I'd missed:

  • Dragon elves soaring through skies of impossible colors.

  • Stout dwarves with secrets carved into their beards.

  • Mischievous halflings and hulking orcs, sharing uneasy glances in shadowy taverns.

  • And of course, the elegant, ever-scheming elves and resilient humans.

For a moment, I worried. Was this a reboot? Would my decades of history with this world be washed away? But Larian swiftly promised this new chapter would continue the epic saga of their 20-year-old series. The relief was palpable. My memories mattered. The lore I'd absorbed wasn't just nostalgia; it was foundational.

Let me tell you, if you're one of those newcomers who saw that gloriously gory and bizarre trailer and felt a pull, you're in for a treat. Baldur's Gate 3 didn't appear out of thin air. It is the magnificent evolution of everything Larian learned in Rivellon. Playing Divinity now feels like meeting the delightful, slightly unhinged ancestors of my favorite characters. Astarion? Darling, he has the dramatic flair of the Red Prince running through his undead veins. And hearing the familiar, beloved voices of Jennifer English and Amelia Tyler weaving new tales here… it just feels right. It’s like coming home and finding your favorite storytellers waiting by the fire.

The fanfare for this release isn't just hype; it's a long-overdue recognition. If you spent a hundred hours (or, let's be real, five hundred) battling the Absolute across Faerûn, you owe it to yourself to visit where that magic was born. The turn-based tactical combat that feels like a brilliant chess match, the environmental interactions where water conducts lightning and blood can be set ablaze, the sheer freedom to try the most outlandish solution and have the game not just allow it but reward it—this is Larian's native language, and Rivellon is where they first spoke it fluently.

So here I am in 2026, my controller in hand, the title screen before me. The journey back to Rivellon is about to begin. It's a world that's both comfortingly familiar and thrillingly new, a testament to a studio that never forgets its roots even as it builds cathedrals in the sky. The adventure awaits... and honestly, I've never been more ready.

Then (Baldur's Gate 3) Now (New Divinity) The Shared Larian Spirit
Sword Coast & Faerûn Rivellon Rich, breathing fantasy worlds
Tav & Companions A new Source Hunter (likely!) Deeply personal character-driven stories
Mind Flayers & Gods Dragon Elves & Seven Gods Unique, weird, and wonderful lore
"It's a critical hit!" "I'll use Source magic!" Signature combat freedom & creativity

The stage is set. The dice are... well, metaphorical. Larian's next masterpiece is on the horizon, and it promises to be an unforgettable return to the world that first taught us the joy of turning an enemy to stone, turning them, literally, to stone. It's a return to a place where the impossible is just another tool in your arsenal. And I, for one, cannot wait to go home.