What was that sinister, statue-like thing Geoff Keighley photographed in the Mojave Desert? For the past week the internet has treated the towering, demon-strewn monolith like a treasure map: clues everywhere, certainty nowhere. Now multiple trademark filings and a handful of industry confirmations have narrowed the field — and everything points toward Divinity.
Keighley’s cryptic tweet — accompanied by the words “regal.inspiring.thickness” — kicked off speculation that the figure was advertising a blockbuster like Diablo, God of War or The Elder Scrolls. Those theories have been steadily shot down by insiders. Jason Schreier said the teaser wasn’t Diablo IV or The Elder Scrolls VI, Cory Barlog has distanced Sony Santa Monica’s projects, and several studios publicly denied links to their IPs. That left the community chasing shadows… until a more concrete lead appeared.
Trademarks, icons and a very familiar eye
Earlier this week a set of three new EU trademarks was filed by a legal representative that has previously handled Larian Studios’ filings. One trademark is a refreshed Divinity logo; another is a small icon — a circular, eye-like glyph — that lines up, almost perfectly, with the prominent symbol carved into the center of the desert statue.
When you overlay the trademark icon on photos of the monolith, the match is striking. That same icon also fits the visual language of past Divinity branding (the slashed “i,” the ornate flourishes), but with a cleaner, updated typeface — enough to suggest this isn’t merely a re-release of old material.
IGN, Video Games Chronicle and MP1st all examined the filings and reached the same conclusion: the most plausible explanation is that Larian’s Divinity franchise is the subject of Keighley’s tease. One of the trademark images remains opaque in meaning — a spoked circle with long, blade-like protrusions — which keeps some mystery alive. Could it be a new faction symbol? An enemy type? Or simply promotional art for a major reveal?
Larian’s position and what this might actually be
Larian’s public messaging complicates the easy headline “Divinity 3.” Michael Douse, the studio’s director of publishing, explicitly said there are no current plans for Divinity: Original Sin 3. But Larian has made clear it’s returning to its own IPs after the Baldur’s Gate 3 chapter — and trademarks don’t lie: companies rarely register logos and icons unless they intend to use them.
So what are the realistic possibilities?
- A full new mainline Divinity entry (not labeled Original Sin) — consistent with Larian building on its owned universes.
- A remake/remaster or current-gen upgrade of an older Divinity title, perhaps paired with a larger announcement.
- A surprise spin-off or new IP that borrows Divinity iconography for marketing misdirection (less likely given the matching registrations).
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier told the Triple Click podcast the project behind the statue is “a good one” and that he expected fans to be pleased — his tone suggested an entirely new, unannounced title rather than a modest port.
Where The Game Awards fits in
The monolith has been actively promoted by Keighley, and The Game Awards is the obvious venue for the reveal. If Larian is behind the statue, a December 11 reveal (the Game Awards broadcast) would make sense timing-wise. Fans should watch the event; if the trademarks are any indicator, it will be more than a subtle nod.
There are ancillary signals that support a PlayStation-focused marketing push, too. Fans previously noticed PlayStation Store tags and upgrade entries — the kind of small storefront breadcrumbs that sometimes presage bigger announcements — and if a PS5-specific enhancement is part of the plan, it plays nicely with the idea of a fresh Divinity rollout on modern hardware (and maybe a shiny PS5 Pro treatment for collectors).
If you want context about how PlayStation storefront data and leaked icons have indicated platform moves before, see the reporting on the PS5 cross-buy icon datamine and how PlayStation hardware and cloud features are evolving with pieces like the PlayStation Portal streaming update.
Why this matters beyond a reveal
Larian has pedigree: from Divine Divinity through Divinity: Original Sin 2 and then Baldur’s Gate 3, the studio has a history of taking RPG design seriously and pushing it commercially. A return to Divinity — whether a full sequel or a big reinvigoration of the brand — would be notable for players who want story-driven, choice-heavy CRPGs.
Trademarks aren’t announcements, of course. They’re signals. Taken together — the matching iconography on the statue, the filings coming from a firm that has worked with Larian before, and several insiders narrowing the field by exclusion — the evidence tips heavily toward a Divinity-related reveal at The Game Awards.
If you’re packing your schedule for the show, keep an eye on the big stage and the official Larian channels immediately afterward. Expect excitement, and perhaps a little vindication for the folks who spent a week driving out to the Mojave with smartphones and foam-core overlays.
(Whatever ends up being shown, it’s probably not Diablo IV, The Elder Scrolls VI, or God of War — at least, that’s what the people who know have been saying.)