Divinity: Original Sin gets an armory worth of new additions on Early Access and a release date

The final version of Divinity: Original Sin will be arriving on the PC this June and the Steam Early Access version of the game (available now) just got plenty of new additions.

Some startling ‘before and afters’ in that video. It certainly looks as though developer Larian has used the Kickstarter funding it received to beef up Divinity: Original Sin in a very big way indeed. And speaking of ‘beefing up’, the Steam Early Access edition of the game just got a whole lot more interesting via an update that introduced a myriad of improvements and additions.

Here’s what’s new if you’re in the program:

• Complete overhaul of loot generation matrix. Expect much cooler treasure.
• Added 135 music tracks, including some all-time favourites from previous Divinity games
• Added a new “Way of the Rogue” ability and a variety of new Rogue skills
• Full overhaul of your Homestead at the End of Time
• You can create different user profiles, so your little brother or sister can play, too.
• Difficulty settings have been added, so players can pick which sort of experience they prefer.
• Added formations, both in turn-based combat and in real-time, for optimal tactical positioning
• All players playing Divinity: Original Sin can now chat with each other, making it easier to form multiplayer groups within the community.
• Added an “Illusionist Mirror” through which you can change your player’s looks in-game
• Replaced “repair” with “blacksmithing” and charm/intimidate/reason abilities by “charisma”
• Amended stats of “Way of the Ranger” skill
• Skill stats now level up with the characters, e.g. a level 1 flare is still useful at level 15.
• Added plenty of new skill visual effects
• Skills now have certain requirements. You can still learn a skill by boosting the relevant ability artificially, but once you lose the boost, you won’t be able to use the skill anymore.
• Full overhaul of all lighting, shading, and zoom. Get up close and personal!
• You can now give commands to each party member independently. Commands will be executed even if you’re focused on another party member.
• Party members avoid traps. Traps can be disarmed with disarm trap kits (an alternative solution to blowing up the trap, which may destroy neighboring objects).
• Journal now tracks the recipes you’ve learned.
• You can switch between party members while trading.
• There is now an interface to assign companions to other players in multiplayer.
• Several stability and performance fixes were made, in addition to loads of bug fixes. Most of the remaining networking issues should be solved now, too.

And finally, Divinity: Original Sin has an official release date as well. The game will launch on PC’s this June the 20th, which is just few month past the one year ‘funded’ anniversary on Kickstarter.