Each year the Flemish Government awards Medals of Honour to a very select group of persons. With the “Ereteken van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap”, the Flemish Government honours persons who have been exceptionally meritorious towards the Flemish Community or the Flemish Region or who, because of their outstanding talent, have contributed to the positive image of Flanders. This year, Swen Vincke, a captain of industry and inspiration for many game developers in Belgium (and far beyond the borders of our tiny little country), receives the honour.

During a solemn ceremony at the beautiful Errera House, Minister-President of the Flemish Government Jan Jambon compared the journey of Balduran to Swen’s: “Not all those who wander are lost, Tolkien wrote, and Balduran, an explorer from Dungeons and Dragons, listened. He wandered around with one goal in mind: to gather enough wealth to found the city of Baldur’s Gate. Tolkien and Dungeons and Dragons are the founders of today’s fantasy genre. Flanders has an equally impressive founder of the game industry walking around in the person of Swen Vincke.”

A true explorer, entrepreneur and seeker of perfection, Swen Vincke knows what it is to swing around, to experience the highs and lows. In 1996, he founded game studio Larian, named after his dog Lar. The beginning was difficult. Until Divinity: Original Sin was launched. So contradictory in name, so successful it smashed the proverbial glass ceiling. No one could have imagined that 5 years later Larian Studios would peak to astronomical heights with their biggest success to date: Baldur’s Gate III. A game that symbolises the tenacious visionary Swen Vincke is in creating thé best game with thé best team.

Cashing in 5 out of 10 nominations at the Bafta Game Awards – to name just one of the recognitions the game received – Swen Vincke is considered an example in our sector that slowly conquers hearts worldwide. That earned him appreciation and well deserved recognition in the form of a Flemish Medal of Honour.

Swen Vincke could not be physically present at the ceremony. Jan Van Dosselaer, Principal Writer at Larian, received the Award on his behalf. Alongside Swen Vincke, Hans Kluge, Barbara Ceuleers and Philippe Vandekerckhove received a Medal of Honour.