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‘Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition’ comes to the iPad
The title has been rebuilt from the ground up using Apple's Metal APIs.
'Baldur's Gate 3' comes to Steam in 2020 as an Early Access game
It took a while, but Larian Studios is narrowing down launch plans for Baldur's Gate 3. Hasbro (which controls Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of the Coast) has confirmed at the New York Toy Fair that the long-anticipated role-playing sequel will arrive on Steam sometime in 2020 as an Early Access title. You won't see BG3 gameplay until Larian's PAX East presentation on February 27th at 3:30PM Eastern, but it's already clear the studio doesn't intend to make players wait much longer past the two decades since Baldur's Gate 2.
'Baldur's Gate III' is real and it'll be on Google Stadia
Amid its wave of announcements for Stadia, Google confirmed several new games will be available on the platform. Darksiders Genesis emerged a few hours before Stadia Connect got underway, and there are some other notable upcoming titles too: Baldur's Gate III and Gylt.
Buddy up with Divinity: Original Sin's two new companions
New DLC for Divinity: Original Sin is available now for free, giving players two new companions to recruit into their heroic entourage. The duo are ranger Bairdotr (left) and mute rogue Wolgraff (right), and you can access them by downloading the DLC on Steam or updating the game on GOG, and then starting a new game from scratch. Larian describes Bairdotr as a curious and loyal archer who's on a quest to safely return the kidnapped druid of the Homeforest. As for Wolgraff, he's not so altruistic: "Dark Sourcery deprived Wolgraff of his voice when he was but a kid, and with it his dream of becoming a Source Hunter. Refused by the Order, he grew up to become a rogue, stealing from the rich and giving to... just himself actually."
Divinity: Original Sin moves half a million copies
Throwback PC RPG Divinity: Original Sin has sold over 500,000 copies since its launch in June, developer Larian Studios announced today. Pitching its project as a return to the genre's roots, Larian surged past its Kickstarter goal last year, more than doubling its initial funding target. Founder Swen Vincke notes that Divinity: Original Sin buyers "mostly" arrived via Steam, with 10 percent of sales coming from retail channels. "'Break even' has been reached, our debts have been paid and we are now in the profitable zone," Vincke wrote. "While not all of the money is for us as we had private investors on board, the game did sufficiently well for us to envision funding our next endeavors with it, meaning we're pretty happy about its performance." [Image: Larian]
Divinity: Original Sin review: Old-school absolution
Divinity: Original Sin is an unashamed timewarp, a beast unrestrained in dragging old-school RPG values into the modern day. The concessions it makes are often by-products of the things it pursues, qualities like agency, depth and challenge. The game is so loaded with depth that, like an inventory-laden hero, it's almost crippled by it, teetering over the abyss of complexity and perplexity. What keeps Original Sin grounded is turn-based combat that's consistently a joy. Its symbiosis with the sheer scope of the game raises the whole thing to heady heights that harken back to another age.
Joystiq Streams: Divinity Original Sin pumps up our RPG bonafides [UPDATE: Relive the stream!]
Larian Studios will never say die! More than a decade on from Divine Divinity, the studios remains committed to old-fashioned PC RPG style. Adventures in the magical kingdom of Rivellon do not need streamlined first-person shooting and aggressive Facebook features in 2014! Quests performed for the Council of Seven need not be augmented by pre-order exclusive DLC! This is turn-based role-playing the way grandma and grandpa used to like it back when you were just a twinkle in SteamOS' eye. Joystiq Streams is ready for a learning experience so we're diving blind into Divinity: Original Sin starting at 4PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch. Not only that, but we have a few copies of the game to give out too. Here's how it's going down. Anthony John Agnello will jump head first into Divinity to create a character and learn the ropes during the stream pre-show at 3:30PM EST. Alexander Sliwinski, a Divinity vet, will join him to help. Then both brave souls will wander into Rivellon starting at 4PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch. The chat's open all day so pop in and give us tips on how to play. Joystiq Streams broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4PM right here and at Twitch.tv/Joystiq. [Images: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin sells a miraculous 160,000
Larian Studios' Kickstarted RPG, Divinity: Original Sin, has debuted to sales of 160,000 copies. After leaving early access and officially launching on June 30, Original Sin quickly became Larian's fastest-selling game, reports Eurogamer. Original Sin's success is thanks to "word of mouth" driven by the game's Kickstarter and Steam early access communities, according to Larian head Swen Vincke. Divinity: Original Sin is available now on Mac and PC. [Image: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin returns to the naughty step until June 30
Larian Studios delayed Divinity: Original Sin by 10 days today, citing the need for a few more finishing touches before the game can ascend out of Steam Early Access. Now Original Sin is to launch fully for Windows PC and Mac on June 30, and by then it'll include a limited range of voice-overs thanks to the extra time. A Linux version remains due at a later date. Original Sin takes the RPG series into a new world of turn-based combat, and friends will be able to experience it across PC and Mac versions. As revealed last month, the game's online two-player co-op works cross-platform while Steam cloud-saves are supported too. [Image: Larian Studios]
Take a peek at Divinity: Original Sin Collector's Edition
Need cloth maps to go with your RPGs? Divinity: Original Sin's Collector's Edition will weave you a pretty picture of the world of Rivellon on June 20, the day fans move on from Early Access and begin clicking through the finished game for PC and Mac. If you've already got enough fictional universes pinned to your wall, there's still a fair amount of stuff in the box: beyond two Steam keys for Original Sin, there's a key for Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity, a soundtrack CD, recipe cards to assist with crafting in Original Sin, a two-sided poster, a pouch of dice, a themed pack of playing cards and stickers. The related press release notes there are only 1,500 Collector's Edition sets left, so if you're interested, ponder the $94.99 bundle over at Larian Studios' Vault. [Image: Larian Studios]
And lo, Divinity: Original Sin doth launch fully in June
Divinity: Original Sin launches in full on June 20, marking a return to PC screens for Larian Studio's RPG series - with a little help from its friends. A Mac version is also on the way at a later date. The game that came up with Sin before Final Fantasy X, SiN and the Bible (ok, maybe not) is currently on Steam Early Access, where Larian's been steadily inundating it with updates. There are a few more additions on the way today, with Larian including everything from "much cooler treasure" to in-game chat and 135 new music tracks. If you're interested, there's still plenty of time to join the Early Access club ahead of June's launch, but it will set you back $40. Original Sin is set long before the events of the original 2002 game, Divine Divinity. That heritage is echoed in what Larian's promising to be a "back-to-the-roots" RPG adventure, albeit with the more modern touch of online and local drop-in/drop-out two-player co-op. [Image: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin enters beta following 'massive' update
Crowdfunded PC action-RPG Divinity: Original Sin has entered beta following the release of a "massive" gameplay-expanding update, developer Larian Studios announced today. Divinity: Original Sin joined Steam's Early Access program in January, offering a preliminary look at its open-world cooperative campaign. Today's update introduces more than 400 new features and gameplay tweaks, including new character talents, skill trees, enemies, and environments. Divinity: Original Sin is available from Steam for $39.99 during its Early Access period. [Video: Larian Studios]
Co-op roleplaying game Divinity: Original Sin arrives this Spring
Larian Studios' latest high fantasy epic, Divinity: Original Sin, is now slated for a Spring release, and to whet players' appetites, the developer has issued the above trailer, titled "Spring Is Coming." According to a press release issued by Larian, the Spring launch window will allow the developer to utilize more of the feedback it has received from the game's Kickstarter backers, as well as those playing the game's Early Access incarnation. "Divinity: Original Sin features a huge and reactive RPG world with unparalleled 2-player co-op, and Larian is taking the time necessary to make it right and polished," the developer stated. If you'd rather not wait a few nebulous months to dig into Divinity: Original Sin, there's still time to join the Early Access test. While there is a $40 cost of entry, Larian claims that the Early Access game will continue to receive content updates and bug fixes for the foreseeable future. [Image: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin now on Steam Early Access
After drawing in more than $900,000 on Kickstarter, Larian Studios' prequel to Divine Divinity, Divinity: Original Sin, is ready for a bit of open-world questing on PCs via Early Access. While buying in will grant you the full game once it's finished, Divinity's Early Access page estimates the current offering to be "the first 15 hours of the game." It also suggests that those looking for something representative of the final version's content and polish should pass on the Early Access version, which is meant to allow players to "influence development" with feedback. Sounds reasonable! The page also notes that while Larian will be updating the game regularly, save games will "not be compatible between versions." Sooo maybe don't get super attached to any adventures you start until Divinity's final version is released. Of course, the final version will include an RPG maker, so you could just get familiar with Divinity's mechanics and then make your own adventure. Larian is encouraging all participants to share their thoughts concerning balancing, bugs and potential improvements on Divinity's discussion board. If you're interested in helping or just itching to venture through the first chunk of the game, $39.99 will get you an Early Access copy. You can also go for the $59.99 double pack and try out the Early Access multiplayer with a friend.
Divinity: Original Sin ascends past Kickstarter goal
Larian Studios' Kickstarter for Divinity: Original Sin met its $400,000 goal today, which means the Belgian studio has the funds to increase its dev team and the RPG's content. Nearly 9000 backers took Larian across the finish line, and with 17 days of the campaign left to go, eyes will turn now towards the Divine Divinity prequel's stretch goals.There are outlined stretch goals from $500,000 to $1 million, with the lower goal bringing a new area to Original Sin, while seven figures introduces impactful day/night and weather systems. The Divinity dev currently divines a November 2013 release date, but access to the game's alpha version, unlocked by a $150 pledge or more, is expected this summer.
Divinity comes to Kickstarter with Original Sin
Belgium-based Larian Studios is holding a Kickstarter for its turn-based, open-world RPG Divinity: Original Sin. The developer says it's hitting up Kickstarter to make the game, which was announced last year, the best it can be."There's a lot of potential in the game systems we've created so far, so we want to invest everything we can into pushing them further and unlocking their full potential," said Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke. "If we get the extra support from our fans now, I'm very confident that we'll be able to make something truly exceptional."The money will be used to expand the development team and increase the content found in the game. Larian is on a good track to make its goal, with (as of this writing) $164,000 pledged of a $400,000 goal and 28 days to go.
Pay what you want for Divinity games on GOG
For a company built on old games, GOG is certainly keeping tabs on the current trends. Not only is it selling new indies (and Witcher games), now the retailer has announced its first pay-what-you-want bundle.The bundle, available until October 18, provides Divine Divinity, Beyond Divinity, and Divinity 2 Developer's Cut for as much as you feel like paying. Provided it's at least $21 – early access to the Developer's Cut comes only at that level, and Beyond Divinity is similarly withheld for below-average payments."This year Larian celebrates the 10th anniversary of our Divinity RPG series, and we're happy to partner up with GOG.com in order to put the whole collection at the mercy of our community," Larian CEO Swen Vincke said. "We've always been thankful for the unceasing support that our players have provided over the years and we'll gladly welcome any and all newcomers!"If you already love Divinity games and feel like paying a set price, Larian has also announced a Divinity Anthology box, with the same games and lots of extras.
Larian Studios' Gamescom still a success despite having two PCs stolen
Divinity franchise dev Larian Studios had a successful trip to Gamescom, even though two of the company's PCs were stolen containing early builds of Divinity: Dragon Commander and Divinity: Original Sin. "The team is using backup PCs, so no issues there," Larian said in a statement issued during the show. A video montaging Larian's antics at Gamescom also captures Larian president Swen Vincke reacting to the burglary in real time."How do you feel about somebody physically stealing your games?" he's asked. "I feel very bad bad about it. I feel like I've been raped actually. It wasn't only my games that were on there, there were also personal documents on there. So I hate it. I think the person should be crucified," Vincke said, clearly still upset."There's very little I can do, I'll keep on smiling. I'll give $5,000 to whoever gets me my PC back," Vincke added. As of now, Larian tells us it hasn't gotten its hardware back, nor have any builds of the two stolen games surfaced online (at least that Larian's seen). Nor has Larian heard from the culprits. If you'd like to get in contact with the studio to offer information, shoot the devs an email right here.
Dragon Commander special edition to include board game
Dragon Commander will bundle an entire board game as a bonus in the game's limited edition at retail. The developers of Larian Studios told us last year at Gamescom they'd created a board game to test out Dragon Commander's strategy mechanics, and it turns out they want to share that creation with hardcore fans of the Divinity universe.The prototype is currently at the Larian booth at Gamescom in a very basic form. The company is currently looking for a company to manufacture the final product. The main hiccup they've run into is that there are a lot of little plastic pieces and the cost of plastic is expensive. The real-time strategy meets RISK meets jetpack dragon shooter will be available on PC in March 2013.
Early builds of Divinity games stolen from Gamescom
Two PCs holding early builds of Divinity: Dragon Commander and Divinity: Original Sin have been stolen from Larian Studios' booth at Gamescom, possibly by jerks. Larian sent a press release out, seeking information on the whereabouts of the PCs and the alleged jerks who did it. To that end, the developer is offering a $5000 reward."The team is using backup PCs, so no issues there," Larian reports. This is all reminiscent of PAX 2010, when a thief attempted to copy early code for the game Breach from one of Atomic Studios' computers. That attempt ended in an arrest and, eventually, probation.
