Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke has recently revealed that almost all the people who were in the original meeting whenBaldur’s Gate 3was approved are no longer working at Wizards of the Coast after the recent layoffs. Considering how positive theBaldur’s Gate 3reviewswere, this is very sad news forDungeons and Dragonsfans.
Baldur’s Gate 3was one the biggest hits of 2023, surprising even its creators with so many glowing reviews and a high player count. The game managed to snatch many prizes at The Game Awards 2023.Baldur’s Gate 3won the GOTY award, as well as four other prizes, including Best RPG, and Multiplayer.
Now, Larian CEO Swen Vincke shared the speec he planned to make at The Game Awards ceremony, which was cut short during the event. Aside from thanking the staff and fans, Vincke commented onthe recent Hasbro layoffs, in which over 1,000 people were fired, including employees from Wizards of the Coast, which manages theDungeons and Dragonsbrand. Vincke said that he was sorry to learn that almost everyone who was in the original meeting that greenlightedBaldur’s Gate 3had left the company by now.
While theBaldur’s Gate 3creator did not specify any names of people who were fired recently, it’s already known that several people who worked on theD&Dteam were let go earlier this week, including even some foundational names who worked onDungeons and Dragons 5E. The list includes people like Mike Mearls, known as one of the co-creators ofDungeons and Dragons 5E, as well as Breeanna Heiss, who worked as the Head of Publishing and Licensing at the company for 28 years, as well as several artists and designers.
Overall, 2023 has been a mixed year for the gaming industry. While some excellent games were released this year, many companies suffered layoffs, and Hasbro is just the latest of many businesses in the entertainment sector to be hit. For example,Unity announced four layoffs in 17 months, cutting over 250 workers recently. Other companies that laid off employees this year include CD Projekt Red, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Team 17, Riot Games, and BioWare, which together, have laid off thousands from their staff.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
