Larian Studios Details Its Application of AI Tools for Upcoming Divinity Game

The team behind hit RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just shown its upcoming project, creating immense anticipation within the industry. However, follow-up comments from the company's lead designer have added nuance to the discussion, addressing the studio's approach toward machine learning.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a latest statement, the studio's founder outlined that the team is utilizing AI technology for certain preliminary tasks. These include developing pitch decks, producing early-stage artistic references, and drafting temporary dialogue.

Crucially, Vincke emphasized that the end assets in the game will be crafted solely by human writers. "Larian is developing everything manually," he stated.

We are continuously growing our roster of writers and are actively putting together narrative groups.

As visual development is being explicitly called out — we presently have 23 concept artists and have roles to fill for more talent.

Each initiative we do is additive and focused on having people spend more time on making content.

Any ML tool implemented properly is supplementary to a artist's process, not a substitute for their craft.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The admission of employing this technology initially sparked backlash among a segment of the community. In reply, Vincke offered further detail on public forums.

"We use AI tools to research ideas, just like we use the internet and physical media," he explained. "During the very early planning process we use it as a basic framework for structure which we then substitute with original illustrations."

He noted, "We've hired creatives for their creative vision, not for their willingness to execute what a machine suggests."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had previously outlined the team's targeted approach to this technology, defining its use into primary functions:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like motion capture cleaning, voice editing, and Larian-specific work like adjusting assets for various species.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using tools to rapidly prototype basic models of gameplay ideas to experiment with concepts ahead of expensive production.
• Future Potential for Gameplay: Researching how AI could one day enhance new forms of gameplay, specifically in managing player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.

He explicitly affirmed that central narrative areas — like writing — are not areas where the studio is cutting creative input. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these exact fields.

"Our studio is not releasing a game with AI-generated content, nor looking at cutting creatives to replace them with AI," Vincke concluded.