Summary
Larian Studiosis planning to open a new company branch in Poland, according to a recent report. The purported expansion could be a result of the incredible success ofBaldur’s Gate 3, which propelledLarian Studiosto new heights following its August 2023 release.
Although the Belgian developer is not in the habit of sharing concrete sales figures, there is no doubt that its latest title marked an unprecedented success for the company;Baldur’s Gate 3has topped Steam sales charts on several occasionsthroughout 2023, and has also enjoyed prolonged stints in the best-selling sections of both the PlayStation and Xbox storefronts. Even the most conservative estimates place the open-world RPG’s lifetime sales at around 5.5 million units as of year-end 2023.
Larian Reportedly Considering Opening Its 7th Studio
Some of that monumental success may end up financing yet another company branch, with Gamepressurereportingthat Larian has now decided to open a studio in Poland, citing an unnamed insider familiar with the plan. Although this media outlet is best known for its game guide content, the notion of it getting a scoop on Larian’s purported Polish expansion dovetails with the fact that Gamepressure is owned by GRY-OnLine, a Polish media group.
It is currently unclear which exact location Larian is eyeing for its alleged expansion. Warsaw, the home city ofThe Witcherdeveloper CPDR, would ostensibly be the best candidate in terms of game developer talent pool that the Gent, Belgium-based company could pull from. But that may not be its only consideration, as opening a subsidiary elsewhere in the country would come with the benefit of lower operational costs; according to recent local studies, Warsaw has the highest cost of living out of all the cities in Poland.
All Larian Studios Branches
A Polish branch would add to the already substantial list of studios that Larian owns and operates, of which there are currently six. Aside from the smaller Dublin office, which has historically mostly focused onwriting forBaldur’s Gate 3and other company projects, the rest of its subsidiaries are of a similar size and have diverse responsibilities.
Larian’s Purported Expansion Runs Contrary to Game Industry Trends
The news of Larian considering yet another expansion comes at a time when the industry, as a whole, is undergoing aggressive cost-cutting efforts. Thousands of developers from across the world have lost their jobs since the turn of the year alone, and even more could be joining them in the near future. Some of those cutbacks happened at Hasbro, the parent company ofDungeons and DragonsIP holder Wizards of the Coast, which licensedBaldur’s Gate 3to Larian. “I’m really sorry to hear so many of you were let go,“Larian CEO Swen Vincke said in reference to the Hasbro layoffsback in December.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
