Larian’s CEO affirms the studio won’t replace teams with AI.

The CEO of Larian, the studio behind Baldur’s Gate 3, has sparked some debate regarding the use of AI in their upcoming project. In an interview, Larian’s CEO Swen Vincke mentioned that the studio employs AI tools for tasks like creating concept art and drafting placeholder text. However, after facing some backlash, Vincke clarified that they are “neither releasing a game with any AI components, nor are we looking at trimming down teams to replace them with AI,” and he shared his thoughts on social media.

Recently, Larian unveiled a teaser for Divinity at The Game Awards, but it didn’t provide much insight into the game itself. According to reports, under Vincke’s leadership, Larian has been exploring generative AI, although he noted that it hasn’t significantly improved efficiency. He emphasized that there will be no AI-generated content in Divinity, stating, “everything is human actors; we’re writing everything ourselves.” Instead, the team uses AI tools to brainstorm ideas, enhance presentations, create concept art, and write placeholder text.

Despite some pushback regarding the use of generative AI, Vincke expressed that the team is generally on board with how it’s being utilized. Former Larian employee Selena Tobin voiced her concerns, stating her enjoyment of working at the studio until the introduction of AI. In response to the criticism, Vincke reiterated that they are expanding their team of concept artists, writers, and storytellers, actively forming writer rooms, casting actors, and hiring translators.

He specifically addressed the concept art aspect, revealing that they currently have 23 concept artists and are looking to hire more. Vincke explained that their approach is incremental, aimed at allowing artists to focus more on creativity. He clarified that any machine learning tools they use are meant to enhance the workflow of creative teams, not replace their skills.

In a statement on social media, Vincke further clarified, “We’re not ‘pushing hard’ for or replacing concept artists with AI. We have a team of 72 artists, including 23 concept artists, and we are hiring more. The art they create is original, and I’m very proud of their work.” He emphasized that while they use AI tools for reference and early ideation, the final concept art is always crafted by talented artists.

Vincke’s perspective appears to contrast with some larger gaming companies that are embracing AI more aggressively. Meanwhile, some indie developers are proudly declaring their projects as “AI free.”