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David has become Goliath - what happens next?
Image credit:Larian Studios / Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Larian Studios / Rock Paper Shotgun
Larian’s king wizard (CEO) Swen Vincke is very eager to tell you about the studio’s next game afterBaldur’s Gate 3. And also, a bit terrified, because after all, the response to Larian’s D&D adaptation has been ratherrhapsodic. How on Earth do you replicate that level of success? The answer may lie in scripture.
Vincke posted these thoughts onXitterin response toBaldur’s Gate 3being nominated for a Game Award. “This is a real honor, especially in a year with so many releases,” he wrote. “Seeing our little “nicherpg” make such waves is very motivating. I wish I could tell you about our next big game but this is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries. I’m very excited about it.”
Which isn’t much of a story in itself, but then one Xitter userrespondedwith a Biblical analogy that Got Me Thinking. “You guys were the David at the start of the story, now you all are the Goliath,” they wrote. To which Vinckereplied: “Yeah that frightens us - but in a good way I think”.
If you don’t know the story of David and Goliath, it’s from the Book of Samuel. David is a young Israelite boy sent to battle the mega-hench Philistine warrior Goliath on behalf of King Saul. It’s a hopelessly one-sided encounter, but with God in his corner, David takes down Goliath with a single stone from his sling.
I find the analogy with Baldur’s Gate 3 interesting/funny for a few reasons. Firstly, who exactly is the original Goliath that Larian’s David has taken down? The scourge of monetisation?Starfield? My desire to not sleep with my entire party?
Secondly, as Vincke’s response suggests, the implication here is that another David will be along at some point to take down Baldur’s Gate 3’s Goliath. I’m not sure there’s an obvious candidate -Rogue Trader?Pillars of Eternity 3? In any case, I’m sure Larian would prefer that the industry’s Davids and Goliaths make peace, overthrow King Saul (who in this analogy is, erm, well, let’s say Embracer, or possibly just capitalism) and prosper together. Perhaps Goliath could collaborate or share resources with David in some way, so as to equalise their size, resulting in a more sustainable industry of Daviaths and Golids - sensibly budgeted RPGs that split the playerbase evenly between them.
Disclosure: Former RPS deputy editor Adam Smith (RPS in peace) now works at Larian and is the lead writer for Baldur’s Gate 3. Former contributor Emily Gera also works on it.
