Larian Studios Clarifies Its Use of Generative AI for Next Project

The studio behind hit titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently shown its upcoming project, generating significant hype within the gaming community. However, subsequent comments from the company's figurehead have brought clarity to the narrative, focusing on the team's stance toward generative artificial intelligence.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent clarification, the studio's founder outlined that the team is using machine learning for specific preliminary purposes. These include fleshing out pitch decks, generating rough visual ideas, and creating draft dialogue.

Crucially, Vincke emphasized that the end assets in the game will be authored solely by real writers. "We are creating all the content manually," he affirmed.

We are actively increasing our pool of concept artists and are busily assembling dedicated writer rooms.

Since concept art is being explicitly mentioned — we currently have 23 artistic staff and have positions available for more artists.

Everything we do is supplementary and focused on enabling creatives to spend greater focus on the creative process.

Any machine learning application implemented properly is a boost to a developer's routine, not a replacement for their talent.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The news of using AI originally generated backlash among a segment of the player base. In reply, Vincke provided additional clarification on public forums.

"We use these tools to gather inspiration, similar to we use Google and art books," he explained. "During the conceptual brainstorming phase we use it as a simple sketch for layout which we then substitute with original artwork."

He noted, "Larian brings on creatives for their unique talent, not for their ability to execute what a machine suggests."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had previously broken down the team's focused method to AI and ML, grouping its use into primary pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This includes refining animations, voice editing, and Larian-specific work like adapting animations for different models.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using tools to speedily create simple models of gameplay ideas to experiment with concepts before full production.
• Future Potential for Gameplay: Exploring how machine learning could eventually enhance new forms of player agency, particularly in simulating dynamic reactions in a vast role-playing world.

He clearly affirmed that key artistic disciplines — like visual art — are are in no way departments where the team is reducing human involvement. In fact, Larian is expanding its staff in these very roles.

"We are neither launching a game with AI-generated content, nor planning on reducing teams to substitute them with artificial intelligence," Vincke summarized.