Baldur’s Gate 3 developers almost lost their chance with the D&D franchise because its previous RPG meant its pitch to Wizards of the Coast was “really lame”

Baldur’s Gate 3 Chief Swen Vincke admits that Larian Studios’ beloved RPG Dungeons & Dragons might never have seen the light of day – all because of the stress surrounding Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 was released in September 2017, just a month after Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke landed the monumental deal with Wizards of the Coast that would lead to the Baldur’s Gate 3 we know and love today. However, not everything went as planned for the developers: with the team focused on the final phase of work on their Divinity sequel, there was barely any energy left to present a design document for Baldur’s Gate 3.

Speaking in an interview with EdgeVincke recounts the stressful moment when Larian had to present a plan to the publisher. “We have to write something, guys,” he thought to himself. “Or we’re going to lose this contract.” He and a small group of developers huddled in a hotel room, working quickly to come up with a design document in just a few days. “It was really bad,” Vincke says, “but we didn’t have the brainpower to deal with it because we were trying to make Divinity: Original Sin 2.”

The director details Wizards of the West Coast’s disappointing reaction and Larian’s response: “Wizards then sent the game back to us with the corporate equivalent of ‘This really sucks.’ And we said, ‘We know, but we’re making a game. Give us another chance.'” Fortunately, Vincke says, “Thankfully, they understood, and we got another chance.” It’s hard to imagine what the gaming world would be like today if the publisher hadn’t agreed to it – I know I’d at least be losing my favorite game of all time.

Baldur’s Gate 3 developers designed the RPG for “a modern audience,” including D&D newcomers, not just “fans of the original BioWare games.”