Larian Studios Clarifies Its Implementation of Generative AI for Next Divinity

The studio behind popular role-playing games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just shown its new project, creating significant hype within the gaming community. However, follow-up remarks from the company's co-founder have brought nuance to the narrative, touching on the studio's approach toward machine learning.

AI as a Creative Assistant, Not a Substitute

In a new statement, the studio's founder detailed that the developer is utilizing AI technology for specific supporting purposes. These include fleshing out PowerPoint slides, creating initial visual ideas, and creating draft copy.

Crucially, Vincke made clear that the final material in the game will be created entirely by human artists. "Larian is creating all the content manually," he said.

Our studio is continuously expanding our roster of writers and are currently assembling narrative groups.

Since this area is being specifically called out — we currently have twenty-three visual developers and have positions available for further artists.

Each initiative we do is incremental and focused on enabling creatives to spend more time on making content.

Any AI system implemented properly is additive to a artist's process, not a replacement for their talent.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of AI usage initially provoked unease among a segment of the fanbase. In reaction, Vincke provided additional detail on public forums.

"We use machine learning to explore references, similar to we use search engines and reference books," he stated. "In the initial planning process we use it as a simple sketch for layout which we then replace with authentic illustrations."

He noted, "Our studio recruits creatives for their inherent skill, not for their capacity to follow what a machine suggests."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had in the past broken down the studio's practical method to AI and ML, grouping its use into primary pillars:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: Areas like motion capture cleaning, voice editing, and pipeline-specific tasks like adapting animations for different models.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using systems to quickly build rough versions of mechanics to test concepts ahead of complete production.
• Experimental Frontiers: Researching how AI could one day facilitate new forms of player agency, especially in creating unforeseen permutations in a detailed game universe.

He explicitly stated that core creative disciplines — like visual art — are are in no way fields where the studio is reducing artistic talent. Conversely, Larian is recruiting more in these exact positions.

"Our studio is neither launching a game with AI-generated content, nor looking at cutting creatives to swap them out with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.