When Larian Studios confirmed that Divinity: Original Sin II would come to the M1 iPad Pro without compromise, the message was simple and unusually bold: the full role-playing game would run at 60fps and keep local co-op. That confirmation followed Apple's 2021 event, where the company introduced the M1-powered iPad Pro and promised a 50 percent CPU jump and a 40 percent GPU jump over the 2020 model. In 2026, that tablet is no longer Apple's newest hardware, but the announcement still stands as a memorable benchmark for what mobile ports could aspire to.

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For a turn-based RPG as dense as Divinity: Original Sin II, the word 'compromise' usually does a lot of work. Mobile versions often trim features, simplify interfaces, or drop multiplayer. Larian insisted the M1 iPad Pro version would not follow that path. The game was set to appear in its full form, with 60fps performance described as a first for a mobile device. That claim mattered because it was not just about frame rates; it was about whether a tablet could host the same kind of experience players expected from a PC or console.

The co-op detail was just as important. Local co-op on a tablet suggested that two players could share the same screen and still get the complete RPG. Port studio Elverils was helping Larian bring the sequel to iPad, which added another layer of interest. Neither company shared release date information when the news broke, so the announcement was a promise rather than a finished product. Still, the scope of the promise was clear.

Here is what Larian and Apple put on the table:

  • 🎮 60fps on a mobile device — a rare target for a full RPG port.

  • 🤝 Local co-op — not a stripped-down solo-only version.

  • 📱 Touch screen support — built for iPad input rather than awkwardly mapped.

  • 🕹️ Controller support — including the newest PlayStation and Xbox controllers on the 2021 iPad Pro.

  • ⚙️ Optimized user interface — important for a game with deep menus and tactical combat.

  • 🧙 The full game — Larian framed it as uncompromised, not a spin-off or a cut-down edition.

Feature What it meant for players
60fps performance Smoother combat, movement, and menu navigation on a tablet.
Local co-op Two players could share the same iPad screen for a full RPG session.
M1 iPad Pro hardware Apple promised major CPU and GPU gains over the 2020 model.
Controller support The new iPad Pro was confirmed to support DualSense and the latest Xbox controller.
Elverils involvement A dedicated port studio joined Larian to handle the iPad version.

The partnership itself was not a last-minute surprise. Larian announced its collaboration with Apple during WWDC 2020, though details were scarce at the time. The studio only confirmed touch screen support, controller support, and an optimized interface. The later update about 60fps and local co-op made the project sound far more ambitious. It suggested that Larian and Elverils were not simply moving an existing build onto a tablet; they were trying to preserve the identity of the game.

Context helps explain why fans paid attention. Divinity: Original Sin II first launched on PC in 2017 and quickly built a reputation as one of the best role-playing experiences in recent memory. It moved to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in August 2018, then reached Nintendo Switch in 2019. By the time the iPad Pro version was discussed, the game had already proven itself across several platforms. A tablet version was not about introducing an unknown title; it was about testing whether a beloved, systems-heavy RPG could survive the move to Apple's high-end hardware.

In 2026, the M1 iPad Pro sits in a different place. It is no longer the shiny new tablet from Apple's lineup, and mobile gaming has continued to evolve. Players now expect more from portable devices, and the line between console, PC, and mobile hardware keeps blurring. That makes the original Divinity: Original Sin II announcement interesting for a different reason. It captures a moment when a major RPG studio publicly refused to describe a tablet port as a compromise. The claim was specific: 60fps, local co-op, full game, controller support, and a tailored interface.

For fans of the RPG, the takeaway is straightforward. The iPad Pro version was positioned as a real version of Divinity: Original Sin II, not a companion app or a simplified adaptation. The game was already available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One when the news arrived, and the iPad Pro version had no confirmed release date at that point. Even so, the announcement gave mobile players something unusual: a reason to expect the full experience rather than a reduced one. ⚔️