Larian just teased a new Divinity that brings back Original Sin 2 characters — but should you care?

Why this announcement actually matters to players

Larian Studios didn’t just drop another fantasy trailer at The Game Awards – they announced a new Divinity that explicitly ties into Divinity: Original Sin 2, complete with cameo returns of Ifan, Sebille and Lohse. That’s more than fan service: it signals Larian wants to fold the studio’s most celebrated systems and stories into a new chapter, not reboot the world into something unrecognizable. For anyone who loved player-driven consequences, tactical elemental combos and the messy moral writing of Original Sin 2, this is the announcement that actually changes what you should be doing today.

• Key takeaway: Divinity is framed as a continuation, not a numbered sequel – expect narrative and system carryover.
• Practical impact: Larian is re-releasing Original Sin 2 on modern consoles with free upgrade packs – replay value just spiked.
• Timeline note: No release date yet; studio cadence suggests a long cycle, probably 2027-2028.
• Red flag: Teasers and continuity are exciting, but save your preorder wallet — Larian’s hype machine can outsell actual details.

Breaking down the reveal: what Larian actually showed

The trailer leaned hard into familiar mechanics: Sourcerer magic, environmental interactions (yes, barrels still explode), and a hint of turn-based combat evolution with verticality and “momentum” type chains. Swen Vincke made the telling choice to say this isn’t “Divinity 3” but a new Divinity — which reads like studio-speak for an entry that borrows legacy characters and systems while trying to capitalize on lessons learned from Baldur’s Gate 3. Cameos for Ifan, Sebille and Lohse were obvious; they weren’t just easter eggs, they flashed in combat, implying those characters will be active agents in the story rather than background wallpaper.

Why this matters now — and what Larian’s track record tells us

Larian just rode Baldur’s Gate 3 to massive commercial success and now has the budget to treat Divinity as a full AAA playground. That’s good: more resources can mean richer companion writing and deeper systems. It’s also why the studio can afford to let players import legacy states or create a “Legacy Mode.” But remember: bigger budgets bring more pressure to monetize or expand features that don’t always serve player experience. The free upgrades for Original Sin 2 ports are a welcome move — the small ¥100 fee for some Japanese upgrades is weirdly petty and begs the question of why localization/packaging wasn’t handled uniformly.

What gamers should actually do right now

If you want your choices to mean something in the new Divinity, replay Original Sin 2. Focus on finishing origin quests, mastering Source skills and experimenting with elemental combos — those systems look explicitly carried over. The new console ports and free Upgrade Pack (note the exception of a tiny ¥100 charge on some Japanese options) make that easy. Don’t binge a casual playthrough: prioritize Tactician or New Game+ for late-game system familiarity, and make save export plans if Larian confirms import features.

• Replay on Definitive Edition—aim to complete origin arcs for full narrative context.
• Practice elemental chains and positioning; the trailer emphasizes verticality and combo momentum.
• Hold off on preorders until Larian shows more of the actual systems and companion roles.

A healthy dose of skepticism

Teasers are teasers for a reason. Larian sells vision well — and it should, because community expectation is high. But continuity claims can be smoke and mirrors if save imports only toggle cosmetic outcomes. My question: will past decisions meaningfully alter late-game beats, or will they unlock cosmetic dialogue and vendor options? The trailer promised “direct connections,” but until we see a systems deep-dive (or save import demo), treat narrative continuity as promising, not guaranteed.

TL;DR — Should you care?

Yes, if you loved Original Sin 2’s systemic combat and morally messy storytelling. No, if you were hoping for an immediate release — this is early-stage hype with a long dev cycle. Replay Original Sin 2 on the new ports to get the lore and mechanics fresh in your head, but don’t preorder based on cameos alone. Larian just reignited the Divinity flame — now it’s on them to prove the spark becomes a bonfire, not smoke.