Larian Studios Details Its Use of AI Tools for Next Project

The team behind hit RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently unveiled its new project, sparking immense hype within the industry. However, subsequent remarks from the company's co-founder have brought a new dimension to the narrative, addressing the developer's approach toward AI tools.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent statement, the studio's founder explained that the developer is using machine learning for particular supporting tasks. These involve developing presentation materials, generating initial artistic references, and writing placeholder dialogue.

Importantly, Vincke emphasized that the final material in the game will be crafted solely by human creatives. "We are creating all the content ourselves," he said.

Larian is constantly expanding our team of concept artists and are busily putting together writing teams.

Given that this area is being specifically called out — we currently have over twenty concept artists and have positions available for further creatives.

Each initiative we do is incremental and focused on having people spend additional energy on the creative process.

Any ML tool used well is additive to a artist's process, never a stand-in for their skill.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The admission of AI usage at first sparked backlash among portions of the player base. In reply, Vincke offered more detail on public forums.

"We use machine learning to research ideas, just like we use the internet and physical media," he explained. "In the conceptual brainstorming phase we use it as a basic framework for layout which we then swap out with authentic illustrations."

He continued, "Our studio recruits talent for their creative vision, not for their ability to replicate what a AI generates."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had previously broken down the team's focused method to this technology, grouping its use into key areas:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This includes refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and pipeline-specific tasks like retargeting animations.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using systems to quickly build basic versions of gameplay ideas to experiment with concepts before expensive implementation.
• Experimental Frontiers: Investigating how machine learning could in the future create new forms of player agency, specifically in creating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He clearly stated that core creative domains — including music composition — are are in no way fields where the team is cutting artistic involvement. In fact, Larian is recruiting more in these very roles.

"We are neither shipping a game with any AI components, nor planning on reducing staff to substitute them with AI," Vincke stated definitively.