{"id":1561707,"date":"2026-04-24T17:43:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/RCdthyBK5zsufr7KWGgXV7"},"modified":"2026-04-24T17:43:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:43:03","slug":"after-shaking-steams-servers-with-baldurs-gate-3s-launch-larian-publishing-chief-says-i-hope-we-absolutely-demolish-it-next-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/after-shaking-steams-servers-with-baldurs-gate-3s-launch-larian-publishing-chief-says-i-hope-we-absolutely-demolish-it-next-time\/","title":{"rendered":"After shaking Steam’s servers with Baldur’s Gate 3’s launch, Larian publishing chief says ‘I hope we absolutely demolish it next time’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Larian has some big aspirations for its next RPG, Divinity<\/a>, which it hopes will surpass even the mighty Baldur’s Gate 3<\/a>. It will be “even larger<\/a>” than BG3, with “deeper sequences of consequence<\/a>,” more interesting fail states<\/a>, better character customization<\/a>, and even more natural and complex NPC relationships<\/a>. Given how good Baldur’s Gate 3 was in all those regards, that’s aiming very high indeed.<\/p>\n

Larian publishing director Michael Douse is aiming even higher than that, though. He wants the launch of Divinity, when it happens, to utterly destroy Steam.<\/p>\n

A little background to begin: Baldur’s Gate 3 launched into early access in October 2020 and was an immediate hit\u2014not without issues, but it laid a very strong foundation for the full game, and Larian’s subsequent high-visibility development over the next few years built anticipation for the full release even higher. It reached the point that, when Baldur’s Gate 3 hit 1.0, Steam felt the impact<\/a>. It trembled; it shuddered; it wobbled; it didn’t go down, but boy, it was shook<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Larian boss Swen Vincke actually apologized for the trouble\u2014tongue in cheek, perhaps, but a nice gesture nonetheless.<\/p>\n

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\"Sorry\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Image credit: Swen Vincke (Twitter))<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You know who’s not sorry? Douse. The only regret he has, apparently, is that Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t leave a smouldering crater where Steam used to be, and by god, next time he wants to make sure.<\/p>\n

“Walked past this in the office. Forgot this happened,” Douse wrote on X<\/a>, alongside an image of a report about Steam’s troubles when BG3 hit early access. “At the time we even fact checked it with Valve. <\/p>\n

“I hope we absolutely demolish it next time. You remember so little when doing so much.”<\/p>\n

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\"Walked<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Image credit: Michael Douse (Twitter))<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well!<\/em> Them’s fightin’ words, although I’m obligated to say (just in case it needs to be said) that I don’t think Douse is seriously wishing harm on Steam, just that he hopes Divinity will be a successful release. But if it does somehow “demolish” Steam? Yeah, that’ll be a pretty funny bonus.<\/p>\n

For those who haven’t been following along with Divinity, I should also clarify that this demolition train isn’t likely to be pulling into the station anytime soon. Divinity was announced with a hell of a trailer at the end of 2025, and like Baldur’s Gate 3 the plan is to go with an early access release, but so far there’s no sign of when that will be: BG3 went from initial reveal to early access launch in 16 months, so 2027 feels like a pretty decent maybe, but at this point it’s anyone’s guess.<\/p>\n

(Here’s that Divinity reveal trailer if you haven’t seen it. Stick with it\u2014trust me, it goes places.)<\/p>\n

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