Why is BG3 not BioWare if it evolved on its own merits? You don’t even have a point you’re trying to make. You just want to tell me that I’m wrong. In order for me to be wrong, one of the most influential games ever would have to have zero influence on the development, funding, or reception of Baldur’s Gate 3. You don’t have any argument because I literally can’t be wrong about it.
If Larian tried to make a game that wasn’t Skyrim, it’s still a positive impact that Skyrim had.
If Larian wanted to make one of the best RPGs, then they’d have to make it better than Skyrim. Net impact, good.
If Larian wanted to make a business case for why they deserved $100M to develop, then they pointed to the success that Skyrim had as validation.
If you think that no one in the 6 years of development compared the game to Skyrim in any way whatsoever or any game inspired by Skyrim, then you have an opinion so dumb that it’s not worth talking to you.