Larian Studios Clarifies Its Application of Generative AI for Next Project

The team behind popular titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently shown its next major project, creating immense excitement within the player base. However, subsequent comments from the company's figurehead have added nuance to the discussion, addressing the studio's stance toward machine learning.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a new statement, Swen Vincke detailed that the company is using generative AI for particular ancillary tasks. These include fleshing out presentation materials, generating initial artistic references, and writing temporary text.

Crucially, Vincke stressed that the shipping content in the game will be authored solely by human creatives. "We are developing everything manually," he said.

We are continuously growing our roster of writers and are actively forming dedicated writer rooms.

Since concept art is being specifically referenced — we right now have 23 concept artists and have positions available for more talent.

Everything we do is additive and focused on letting our team spend additional energy on actual creation.

Any ML tool used well is a boost to a developer's process, never a stand-in for their skill.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of AI usage at first provoked backlash among a segment of the fanbase. In response, Vincke provided further elaboration on social media.

"At Larian, we employ machine learning to gather inspiration, in the same way we use the internet and physical media," he explained. "During the very early brainstorming phase we use it as a basic framework for structure which we then swap out with authentic concept art."

He noted, "We've hired creatives for their unique talent, not for their ability to follow what a machine suggests."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had in the past broken down the studio's practical approach to this technology, defining its use into primary pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This includes polishing mocap data, audio processing, and pipeline-specific tasks like retargeting animations.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using tools to quickly build basic models of scenarios to validate concepts before complete implementation.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how AI could one day create innovative player agency, specifically in creating unforeseen permutations in a detailed game universe.

He specifically noted that central narrative areas — like writing — are are absolutely not fields where the company is cutting human involvement. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these precise roles.

"Larian is neither shipping a game with machine-made assets, and we are certainly not planning on reducing creatives to replace them with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.