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

The developer behind popular RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just unveiled its new project, generating immense hype within the player base. However, subsequent statements from the studio's lead designer have brought nuance to the conversation, addressing the developer's approach toward AI tools.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a new statement, the studio's founder outlined that the company is utilizing AI technology for certain preliminary tasks. These include enhancing PowerPoint slides, creating early-stage concept art, and writing placeholder dialogue.

Notably, Vincke emphasized that the shipping material in the game will be authored exclusively by real artists. "We are creating all the content in-house," he said.

We are constantly increasing our roster of concept artists and are currently forming narrative groups.

Since visual development is being explicitly referenced — we presently have 23 artistic staff and have job openings for more talent.

All our efforts we do is incremental and aimed at having people spend additional energy on the creative process.

Any machine learning application used well is a boost to a creative team workflow, not a substitute for their talent.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of employing this technology at first generated backlash among some the player base. In response, Vincke issued more clarification on online platforms.

"We use machine learning to gather inspiration, in the same way we use Google and art books," he wrote. "During the very early brainstorming phase we use it as a rough outline for composition which we then substitute with original illustrations."

He noted, "Our studio recruits talent for their unique talent, not for their willingness to replicate what a machine suggests."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had in the past detailed the team's targeted strategy to AI and ML, defining its use into three main functions:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: This includes motion capture cleaning, voice editing, and Larian-specific work like retargeting animations.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using systems to speedily create basic mock-ups of scenarios to experiment with concepts before expensive development.
• Experimental Frontiers: Researching how machine learning could one day facilitate innovative gameplay, particularly in managing player-driven narratives in a detailed game universe.

He explicitly noted that key artistic domains — including music composition — are are in no way areas where the company is replacing human input. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these precise fields.

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