In an alternate universe, we'd be talking about Microsoft acquiring Larian Studios and making Baldur's Gate 3 exclusive to the Xbox Series S/X. Alas, this doesn't happen. Microsoft's laundry list of potential acquisitions might have included the likes of Larian Studios and Square Enix, but it ultimately ended up getting away with a bigger coup: ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard. And, while most studios would've loved being part of the Microsoft Gaming umbrella, Larian doesn't seem to be too bothered by it.
Despite the interest from Microsoft, the studio's founder and CEO, Swen Vincke, dismisses the idea of being absorbed into a larger entity, choosing instead to commit to remaining independent.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Vincke made clear his stance on this issue, underlining his commitment to preserving the studio's autonomy and creative independence. He explained, "The strength of this company is that I'm very invested in the gameplay, and I also make the ultimate decisions. We can do things in service of the games we're making."
The Belgian-based studio recently made headlines after, among other things, it appeared on a rumored list of developers that Microsoft was considering for acquisition. The list, which surfaced during Microsoft's legal clash with the Federal Trade Commission over its proposed Activision Blizzard deal, included prestigious names such as SEGA, Square Enix, CD Projekt RED, FromSoftware, and Larian Studios, among others.
