independent video-game studio

Larian Studios

An independent RPG studio known for Divinity: Original Sin and Baldur’s Gate 3, with large-scale premium games and unusually player-friendly product reputation. Larian Studios scores well because the model leaves more value with stakeholders and it bears more of the costs created by its work, though ecological harm and identity capture still limits the evaluation.

Why this matters: Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits.

Letter grade B Qualified Medium confidence (AI) Rubric gcd-rubric-v1 Last reviewed May 7, 2026

Final Score 47* B - Qualified

BQUALIFIED47 pts

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

Base Material47

Bonus+4

Cap66No structure cap

After Cap51

Penalties-4

!Not Verified

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Evaluation Overview

B - Qualified

The score turns mainly on Extraction, with the largest penalty coming from Ecological Harm.

Strengths

Extraction7/10
Loss-Bearing Fidelity6/7
Ownership5/10

Penalties

Ecological Harm-1
Youth Capture-1
Identity Capture-1
Ideological Disavowal-1

Evidence state

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)
ThoroughnessDeveloped (AI)
Linked claims9
Direct axis claims8
Coverage8/15

Scoring Axes

Axis	Score	Why this score
Ownership ? Control rights: shareholder-dominated at 0, worker cooperative control at 10.	5 / 10	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. That places Larian Studios in the middle of Ownership: there is some mission, member, producer, or public-interest constraint, but decisive control is not fully democratic. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Governance ? Binding decision authority: centralized control at 0, democratic stakeholder control at 10.	4 / 10	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. That places Larian Studios in the middle of Governance: there are accountability mechanisms, but they stop short of broad democratic control. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Extraction ? Surplus allocation, wage share, CEO pay ratio, margins, and structured extraction judgment.	7 / 10	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. That places Larian Studios in the middle of Extraction: the institution creates real value but still leaves room for rent extraction, unequal bargaining, or surplus capture. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Labor Sovereignty ? Worker power: coercive conditions at 0, co-determination or ownership at 7. Employee dissatisfaction matters only when source-backed evidence shows concrete limits on worker agency, such as coercive scheduling, retaliation, wage theft, harassment, unsafe conditions, suppression of worker voice, or extreme turnover.	5 / 7	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. That places Larian Studios in the middle of Labor Sovereignty: workers or participants have some protection or agency, but not enough binding power to control the relationship. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Solidarity with the Unemployed ? Treatment of exits and nonworkers, including severance, redeployment, and non-competes.	5 / 7	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. That places Larian Studios in the middle of Solidarity with the Unemployed: some access, severance, retraining, openness, or mutual-aid value is present, but it is not central or durable. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Loss-Bearing Fidelity ? Willingness to absorb costs to preserve values, workers, users, and public obligations.	6 / 7	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Market Conduct ? Pricing fairness, switching costs, lock-in, and rent extraction.	5 / 5	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Product Integrity ? Preservation of quality rather than degradation for monetization.	5 / 5	Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. That places Larian Studios high on Product Integrity: the core offering is genuinely useful and comparatively less dependent on traps, degradation, or harmful dependencies. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]
Scale Integrity ? Whether growth improves or degrades fairness and accountability.	5 / 5	Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence context Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure. [1] context Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value. [2] context Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [3]

Penalties

Penalty	Applied	Why this penalty
Ecological Harm ? Footprint, trajectory, irreversibility, culpability, and scale, including whether ecological harm is central to the model and continued after credible notice. Range: -30 to 0.	-1	Larian sells primarily digital premium games with lower material throughput than physical game publishers; the small ecological penalty reflects ordinary digital infrastructure and large-studio production impacts. Larian sells primarily digital premium games with lower material throughput than physical game publishers; the small ecological penalty reflects ordinary digital infrastructure and large-studio production impacts. That warrants a limited Ecological Harm penalty because the institution causes or defends ecological damage that is more than incidental to the model. The value is limited because the linked record shows a real problem but not one that dominates the profile on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence Larian sells primarily digital premium games with lower material throughput than physical game publishers; the small ecological penalty reflects ordinary digital infrastructure and large-studio production impacts. [6]
Youth Capture ? Manipulative youth-directed marketing, youth-data or attention monetization, collectible/add-on traps, parasocial or identity capture, surprise mechanics, or treating young people as lower-disclosure consumers. Making useful toys or welcoming children is not itself penalized. Range: -5 to 0.	-1	Larian sells premium RPGs without a youth-targeted free-to-play, loot-box, or child-attention extraction model; the small penalty reflects ordinary youth-accessible fandom rather than direct youth capture. Larian sells premium RPGs without a youth-targeted free-to-play, loot-box, or child-attention extraction model; the small penalty reflects ordinary youth-accessible fandom rather than direct youth capture. That warrants a limited Youth Capture penalty because young people are treated as manipulable consumers, data sources, attention targets, or culture markets. The value is limited because the linked record shows a real problem but not one that dominates the profile on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence Larian sells premium RPGs without a youth-targeted free-to-play, loot-box, or child-attention extraction model; the small penalty reflects ordinary youth-accessible fandom rather than direct youth capture. [7]
Identity Capture ? Customer pressure, employee pressure, and pervasive identity saturation. Range: -3 to 0.	-1	Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. That warrants a limited Identity Capture penalty because users, workers, customers, or publics are pressured into identity attachment that protects institutional power. The value is limited because the linked record shows a real problem but not one that dominates the profile on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [8]
Ideological Disavowal ? Concealed ideology presented as neutrality, expertise, professional necessity, public-service administration, market inevitability, or non-ideological common sense while exercising power. Range: -3 to 0.	-1	Larian Studios's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because Larian Studios shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise,… Larian Studios's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because Larian Studios shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise, public-interest, professional, market, safety, or institutional language, but the record does not show dominant concealment of standpoint. That warrants a limited Ideological Disavowal penalty because the institution presents situated, contested choices as neutrality, expertise, inevitability, safety, or common sense. The value is limited because the linked record shows a real problem but not one that dominates the profile on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Ideological Disavowal 0 to -3 recalibration: 0 for explicit standpoint or no penalty-level neutrality theater; -1 for bounded softening of contested choices; -2 for strong neutrality theater by a powerful institution; -3 for major gatekeeping or coercive power presented as neutral, necessary, objective, or non-ideological. Uncertainty This recalibration uses public self-presentation and profile evidence; later review should add direct language-analysis evidence for high-impact institutions. Linked evidence Larian Studios's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because Larian Studios shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise, public-interest, professional, market, safety, or institutional language, but the record does not show dominant concealment of standpoint. [9]

Bonus Credits

Bonus	Credit	Why this credit
Good Deal ? Credit for unusually fair value: durable quality, fair pricing, low lock-in, and clear customer surplus.	3 / 3	Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. That supports full Good Deal credit because ordinary users receive unusually fair value, durability, access, or surplus. Full credit is reserved for unusually clear, profile-specific evidence rather than ordinary compliance language. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [4]
Cost Transparency ? Credit for clear posted prices, all-in fees, unit costs, public rate cards, margin/cost visibility, or surplus-allocation transparency, especially in markets where opaque quotes, hidden fees, or individualized pricing are normal.	1 / 3	Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. That supports partial Cost Transparency credit because pricing, margins, fees, funding, or surplus allocation are made meaningfully legible. The value remains partial because the linked record does not show the practice as comprehensive, durable, or central enough for full credit. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Board-game and good-video-game follow-up; compare against The Game Crafter, Stonemaier, Leder, Supergiant, Larian, major publishers, and Asmodee-owned studios. Uncertainty Focused follow-up; later review should add more labor, supply-chain, financial, and player-community evidence. Linked evidence Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits. [5]

Confidence Basis

Confidence is computed from the evidence trail and review state, not typed into the profile by hand.

Medium 67/100

9 verified linked claims 8 direct axis claims 0 disputed claims 8/15 components covered

This confidence label measures the source-backed evidence trail. AI-scaffolded scores remain tentative until human review.

Claim confidence 13/20

9 verified linked claims

Source quality 10/18

Best source per verified claim, weighted by institutional reliability

Direct axis-specific claims 9/18

8 direct claims across 15 active components

Dispute load 12/12

0 disputed claims on this entity

Recency 10/10

Newest accepted timestamp: May 13, 2026

Reviewer status 7/12

Human-reviewed components score higher than AI scaffolding

Component coverage 5/10

8/15 evidence-bearing components have direct support

Evidence State

Profile stateAI draft / human-pending

VerificationUnverified

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)

ThoroughnessDeveloped (AI)

Correction routeUse “Challenge this rating” for factual errors, missing counterevidence, source problems, or calculation mistakes.

Company responseCompany representatives can submit source-backed corrections; payment never changes scores or reviewer authority.

Claims and Sources

Claims are the evidence record. Each claim needs a source link, axis category, status, confidence level, and timestamp before it can support a score.

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

1Larian Studios has private company control rather than a verified worker/user democratic structure.

Ownership Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

2Larian Studios publishes or sells recognized board or video games with real play, craft, or hobby value.

Product Integrity Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

3Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits.

Calculation Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

4Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits.

Good Deal Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

5Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits.

Cost Transparency Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

6Larian sells primarily digital premium games with lower material throughput than physical game publishers; the small ecological penalty reflects ordinary digital infrastructure and large-studio production impacts.

Ecological Harm Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

7Larian sells premium RPGs without a youth-targeted free-to-play, loot-box, or child-attention extraction model; the small penalty reflects ordinary youth-accessible fandom rather than direct youth capture.

Youth Capture Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

8Larian is a B-level video-game company: high product integrity and resistance to extractive live-service monetization, but private control and large studio hierarchy remain limits.

Identity Capture Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 7, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

9Larian Studios's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because Larian Studios shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise, public-interest, professional, market, safety, or institutional language, but the record does not show dominant concealment of standpoint.

Ideological Disavowal Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 9, 2026

AI scaffold

Larian Studios official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Larian Studios gamesGeneral web source · 58%

Alternatives

Competitors

AGOOD63 Future Club employee-owned cooperative game studio · same market AGOOD63 KO_OP worker-owned game studio · same market AGOOD63 Motion Twin worker cooperative game studio · same market AGOOD61 Means Interactive cooperative game publisher · same market AGOOD52 itch.io independent game marketplace · same market BQUALIFIED48 ConcernedApe independent game developer and publisher · same market BQUALIFIED48 PlanToys sustainable wooden toy company · same market BQUALIFIED48 Supergiant Games independent video-game studio · same market

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