Larian Studios is apparently bullish on generative AI. Despite backlash against the technology from fans and even some of his own developers, studio head Swen Vincke says the Baldur’s Gate 3 maker has embraced it for exploring ideas and for the early prototyping of new content.
Bloomberg reports that Larian has been “pushing hard on generative AI,” using it for things like PowerPoint presentations, placeholder text, and even concept art. The RPG powerhouse has reportedly moved ahead with the tools even against the wishes of some staff at the company, though Vincke believes most of the team is on board with how it’s currently being implemented.
“I think at this point everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we’re using it,” he said.
The Larian director also promised that no generative AI would make it into any finished games, like the studio’s upcoming turned-based RPG Divinity. “Everything is human actors; we’re writing everything ourselves,” Vincke told Bloomberg.
This is in line with the veteran designer’s previous comments on AI, which argued that human creativity will still be the defining factor behind great games:
I don’t think you would have a competitive advantage if you do [use AI in the finished product], because it’s gonna be what’s available to everybody—if the baseline goes up because generation is available to everybody? Fine, that’s a new reality that we’re in. But you’re still gonna wanna create something special on top of that, and I think that’s where teams like us will make the difference.
I don’t think that people in my position that say ‘oh, we’ll replace everyone with AI’ are doing the right thing, they’re doing the wrong thing. But what I do think is we’re gonna jump forward in the kinds of games we make…we’re gonna be making our games differently, but to say that it’ll replace the craftsmanship? I think we’re very far from it.
At the time, Vincke was talking about using AI tools to help spot plot inconsistencies across branching dialogue and sprawling networks of interacting narrative elements. But flagging potential issues is very different from using AI to generate material like concept art and even placeholder text.
A bit of AI slop copy made it into The Alters this year and briefly caused a firestorm among players. Using any AI at all can immediately blur the lines between creativity and plagiarism.
