We had the opportunity to interview Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke during Level UP KL, where he shared insights into the studio’s growth, personal gaming preferences, and management philosophy. The conversation revealed intriguing details about Larian’s journey and approach to game development.

Larian Studios’ Growth and Current Interests

Vincke expressed pride in the evolution of Larian’s Malaysian studio, established in 2019. He noted a significant shift in the team’s mentality, transitioning from primarily handling outsourced projects to taking ownership of their own game development. A recent interaction highlighted this transformation when a team member expressed joy at feeling the game was truly theirs, a sentiment that particularly warmed Vincke’s heart. “Just yesterday, someone told me that the team said, ‘I’m so happy. I finally feel like this is our game,'” Vincke shared. “It wasn’t like this at the start, so witnessing that shift has been really incredible.”

When we asked about his picks for Game of the Year 2024, Vincke immediately named Balatro as his top choice, citing the considerable time he’s invested in the game. “So for this year, I played Balatro the most. So I would probably put Balatro there,” he stated. He also mentioned enjoying the co-op mode of Vampire Survivors, a game he’s been catching up on recently.

Interestingly, when questioned about genres he’d like to explore further, Vincke revealed, “Well, currently mostly a Roblox. So that’s why that’s where I’m catching up,” indicating a diverse interest.

Managing Studio Growth and Fostering Creativity

Regarding the challenges of managing Larian’s growth from a small team to a large-scale studio, Vincke credited the success to his “fantastic team of studio managers.” He emphasized their crucial role in overseeing team management, suggesting a decentralized leadership approach. “I have a fantastic team of studio managers who are responsible for overseeing team management. That’s their primary role, and that’s the key to our success. So that’s the trick,” Vincke explained.

Vincke also elaborated on how Larian leverages its global studio network to enrich game development. He described a bottom-up development approach that encourages teams to bring their unique perspectives and identities into their work. “At Larian, we focus heavily on a bottom-up development approach. We give our teams as much freedom and agency as possible, encouraging them to bring their unique perspectives and identities into the game,” he said.

The Larian Studios CEO stressed the importance of trust in their creative process, allowing teams the freedom to experiment and even fail. “Creativity can’t thrive without the possibility of failure, so we create an environment where mistakes are not only accepted but embraced. It’s all about stumbling, learning, and pushing forward,” Vincke emphasized.

Vincke concluded by highlighting the team’s ownership of their creations: “Our role as leaders is to guide the process, but ultimately, the team owns the game they create. We try to foster a space where failure is part of growth, and no one is criticized for it. People are only held back if they’re afraid to try.” This philosophy appears to be at the core of Larian’s approach to game development, fostering an environment where creativity can flourish and diverse perspectives contribute to the final product.