Larian Studios Clarifies Its Implementation of Machine Learning for Next Divinity Game

The developer behind popular titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently shown its upcoming project, generating immense hype within the player base. However, subsequent comments from the company's co-founder have brought a new dimension to the conversation, focusing on the developer's philosophy toward AI tools.

AI as a Creative Assistant, Not a Substitute

In a new clarification, Swen Vincke detailed that the team is using generative AI for particular ancillary tasks. These involve developing PowerPoint slides, producing rough visual ideas, and writing placeholder dialogue.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the shipping assets in the game will be authored solely by real writers. "Larian is creating everything ourselves," he stated.

Our studio is actively growing our team of storytellers and are busily forming narrative groups.

Given that visual development is being specifically called out — we right now have over twenty visual developers and have positions available for more artists.

All our efforts we do is incremental and aimed at enabling creatives to spend more time on the creative process.

Any AI system applied correctly is additive to a creative team workflow, not a substitute for their talent.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The news of AI usage initially generated backlash among a segment of the player base. In reaction, Vincke provided further detail on public forums.

"At Larian, we employ machine learning to research ideas, similar to we use search engines and physical media," he explained. "In the conceptual planning process we use it as a rough outline for layout which we then replace with hand-crafted artwork."

He continued, "We've hired artists for their unique talent, not for their willingness to follow what a machine suggests."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had earlier outlined the team's practical strategy to AI and ML, grouping its use into three main functions:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and pipeline-specific tasks like adjusting assets for various species.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using technology to rapidly prototype simple models of gameplay ideas to experiment with concepts before full production.
• Experimental Frontiers: Exploring how AI could one day create emergent gameplay, especially in simulating player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.

He explicitly stated that central narrative disciplines — including visual art — are are absolutely not departments where the team is replacing human input. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these exact roles.

"We are neither shipping a game with machine-made assets, nor considering reducing staff to replace them with AI," Vincke concluded.