Larian Studios Is Not Involved In The Baldur’s Gate TV Show And They Are Not Happy
Recent reports have confirmed that a television adaptation of the popular role-playing game universe is currently in development at HBO. This new project is reportedly being helmed by Craig Mazin who is well known for his work on the critically acclaimed series ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘Chernobyl’. The upcoming show is expected to take place after the events of the massive hit game ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ and will feature familiar characters from the title. However, the developers behind the game that revitalized the franchise have revealed that they are not part of this new production. Larian Studios has confirmed that they have no direct involvement in the series despite the story continuing from their own narrative.
The reaction from the studio has been one of surprise and notable frustration regarding their exclusion from the creative process. Michael Douse, the Director of Publishing at Larian Studios, took to social media to express his feelings about the situation shortly after the news broke. He stated that he was blindsided by the announcement and indicated that the developers were not consulted about the adaptation of their work. Douse praised the writing team at Larian for their incredible work over the last decade and suggested that no one else could match their understanding of these characters. His comments highlighted a deep disappointment that the people who crafted the current iteration of the world are being left on the sidelines.
Tension appears to stem from the fact that the studio believes they are responsible for the current popularity of the brand. Douse remarked that the property is only being referred to as ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ in the context of the show because of the massive success Larian achieved. The game sold millions of copies and won numerous awards which arguably paved the way for a high-budget television series to even be considered. The exclusion stands in stark contrast to other recent video game adaptations where original creators played significant roles. Shows like ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘Fallout’ benefited heavily from having their original creative directors involved as executive producers or writers.
Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian Studios, offered a slightly more diplomatic perspective on the unfolding situation. He confirmed that while their writers are not consulting on the show, Craig Mazin did reach out to him personally. Vincke noted that Mazin requested to visit the studio and the conversation gave him some hope that the project is in the hands of a genuine fan. This interaction suggests that while there is no official collaboration, there might be some level of respect for the source material from the showrunner. However, the lack of formal involvement for the team that defined the modern era of the franchise remains a sore point for many at the company.
Fans of the game are now left wondering how the show will handle the complex branching narratives that defined the gaming experience without the original architects. The transition from a player-driven story to a linear television script is always difficult and the absence of Larian could prove to be a significant hurdle. Many are skeptical about whether a third-party production team can capture the specific charm and depth that made the game a global phenomenon. The coming months will likely reveal more about the direction of the series and whether the showrunners will eventually seek more input from the developers.
Tell us if you think Larian Studios should have a say in the production of the new show in the comments.