Larian Studios Clarifies Its Use of AI Tools for Upcoming Divinity

The studio behind popular role-playing games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently teased its next major project, sparking immense hype within the industry. However, follow-up comments from the company's co-founder have added clarity to the conversation, addressing the developer's approach toward machine learning.

AI as a Creative Assistant, Not a Substitute

In a recent message, the studio's founder explained that the team is using AI technology for specific supporting functions. These encompass enhancing pitch decks, creating initial visual ideas, and creating placeholder dialogue.

Crucially, Vincke emphasized that the shipping content in the game will be crafted solely by real artists. "Larian is creating all the content in-house," he said.

We are continuously growing our pool of concept artists and are currently putting together writing teams.

As concept art is being explicitly referenced — we right now have over twenty concept artists and have roles to fill for additional artists.

Each initiative we do is additive and aimed at having people spend additional energy on making content.

Any ML tool implemented properly is a boost to a creative team process, not a replacement for their talent.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of employing this technology at first generated unease among some the fanbase. In reply, Vincke issued more detail on online platforms.

"At Larian, we employ these tools to gather inspiration, in the same way we use the internet and physical media," he wrote. "In the conceptual planning process we use it as a simple sketch for layout which we then swap out with hand-crafted concept art."

He noted, "Our studio recruits artists for their unique talent, not for their ability to replicate what a algorithm proposes."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had earlier broken down the team's practical approach to AI and ML, defining its use into key areas:

• Automation of Tedious Tasks: Areas like motion capture cleaning, voice editing, and pipeline-specific tasks like adjusting assets for various species.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using tools to rapidly prototype basic models of scenarios to test concepts ahead of complete production.
• Experimental Frontiers: Investigating how AI could one day enhance innovative reactivity, especially in simulating dynamic reactions in a complex RPG.

He explicitly affirmed that core creative areas — like writing — are are absolutely not areas where the team is reducing artistic talent. On the contrary, Larian is expanding its staff in these exact positions.

"Larian is neither launching a game with AI-generated content, nor looking at reducing staff to swap them out with AI," Vincke stated definitively.