Larian Studios, the developer behind Baldur's Gate 3, bagged multiple wins at DICE Awards 2024. Amid the celebration, the studio took a moment to address pressing issues in the gaming industry and seemingly took a jab at other game studios.
Larian Studios Addresses Issues in the Gaming Industry
Devs Seemingly Take a Jab at Other Game Studios
Delivering their speech after winning DICE's GOTY with Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios Director of Publishing Michael Douse highlighted the challenges faced by developers. He emphasized the value of developers and urged them not to lose hope despite the difficult times in the industry.
"This is a really human industry, and we're really bad sometimes at showing developers what they're worth and showing the players at home that we care about them.it's kinda the elephant in the room, especially surrounded by all this opulence, which, you know, can only go so far without people," Douse started off. "We would not be standing here without the people that work on these games."
"Many, many people were let go at the start of this year. I want you all to know that you are all talented, and that you matter, and that you are the future of this industry. Don't let that flame be extinguished by our collective mistakes. I know everyone here is scared because sh*t is really f**ked up. But, we will persevere as an industry, and you will all find your place and you will all be welcomed back with open arms," Douse ended his speech, addressing the countless thousands who had lost their jobs during the industry wide layoff trend.
Larian Says They Don't Have
Nor Think About
Shareholders Despite Tencent Backing
David Walgrave, head of production at Larian Studios, echoed Douse's sentiments and emphasized the studio's commitment to putting players first. He spoke about the studio's approach to focusing on creating enjoyable gaming experiences and not prioritizing profit over player satisfaction.
"The secret to our success is the decisions that we make [that] come from 'what does the player want?' 'What do I think is the best for the game?' 'What is the most fun?'" He continued, "We ask you to pay one price only for the game, and that's it. You can own it for the rest of your life. We don't have shareholders, but we also don't think about them."
These were especially interesting comments made following studios like the Embracer Group stating that, as a publicly traded company, its goal is to "always maximize shareholder value in any given situation" as it lets go of a substantial number of employees over the course of 2024 and the past year.
Walgrave's comments also indirectly addressed the trend of subscription-based models in gaming, emphasizing their stance on traditional ownership of games. With companies like Ubisoft, which had gone public with its sentiment of embracing subscription-based models and moving away from traditional ownership of video games, Walgrace statements could be a dig at the business-first aspect of the industry.
"What we have tried in the last 20 years is to treat people like we would like to be treated ourselves as players, as gamers. So we don't make decisions where we take where we think this could make us the most money. In the long run, building a community, building a player base, building games that are actually fun is going to make you the most money, that's it," Walgrave stated. Now, talk about a four-piece combo.
Tencent has preferred shares
in Larian Studios
However, it's worth noting that while Larian Studios prides itself on its player-centric approach and independence from shareholders, it does have a single shareholder in Tencent—holding a 30% stake in the company, which it describes as a preference share—as pointed out by PCGamer. Preferred shares, as defined, are "securities that represent ownership in a corporation, and that have a priority claim over common shares on the company’s assets and earnings."
Tencent owns a stake in Larian Studios but does not outright own either the studio or the IP rights. As it is, Larian Studio remains a privately-held company by founder Swen Vincke, and its ventures enjoy capital backing from such conglomerates.
Source:
'We don't have shareholders, but we also don't think about them,' Larian Studios uses its stage time at the DICE Awards to speak out against a brutal industry climate
Larian Studios's Pitchbook company profile
Dungeons & Dragons maker reportedly looks at Tencent to sell future video games like Baldur’s Gate 3
