In video game development, choosing the right engine is similar to selecting the foundation for a building. It’s one of the most important decisions that can make or break an entire project. With the introduction of Unreal Engine 5, many studios were looking to build the game there.
However, for Larian Studios, simply selecting the latest engine for Baldur’s Gate 3 was not an easy pick as they have their own engine called Divinity 4.0. The temptation was there for the studio to use Unreal Engine 5, but they decided to stick with their own engine.
Baldur’s Gate 3 ignored the temptation of Unreal Engine 5 (UE5)
In an interview, Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian Studios, shed some light on the matter of selecting the engine for Baldur’s Gate 3. He discussed why he opted to stay with Divinity 4.0, despite the fact that he was super amazed at the technology and creativity that UE5 brings to the table.
Vincke expressed that to deliver a good game, they must have full familiarity and creative control over the engine. Since Divinity 4.0 is made by them, it is fully tailored to suit the studio’s specific needs.
For them to switch to UE5, would pose a huge risk as developers have to start from scratch. This has a potential risk of jeopardizing the main vision they had for the game. Vincke said:
Yeah, there’s a reason why we’re not switching to Unreal, for instance. Because we think the strengths of having your own engine is way, way higher than being able to switch to somebody else’s engine. And so the fact that we are working on the same engine already, since 2010, gives us a lot of benefits, that’s for sure.
This level of freedom and awareness of the engine helps developers implement new features and mechanics. It showed in Baldur’s Gate 3 release as the game had its branching narratives and complex gameplay systems.
The Right Choice: Sticking with Divinity 4.0
UE5 is undoubtedly a better engine at its core and has some impressive features, such as Nanite and Lumen. But Larian Studios was correct in choosing Divinity 4.0 as the familiarity and the flexibility with the engine helped them make the game a success.
As Baldur’s Gate 3 continues to impress players with its engaging storytelling and immersive gameplay, it serves as proof of Larian Studios making the right choice. This decision not only helped make their creative vision come to life but also ensured that they would not have to sign any third-party licensing agreements, or pay royalties.
In the growing landscape of game development, sometimes the best choice is the one that stays true to your roots. Just like in Baldur’s Gate 3, every decision matters and has different outcomes.
