Larian Studios Clarifies Its Application of AI Tools for New Project
The team behind hit RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently shown its new project, generating immense hype within the player base. However, subsequent statements from the company's figurehead have added clarity to the discussion, addressing the team's stance toward generative artificial intelligence.
A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement
In a recent message, Swen Vincke outlined that the developer is employing AI technology for certain ancillary tasks. These involve enhancing PowerPoint slides, generating rough visual ideas, and writing temporary copy.
Notably, Vincke stressed that the final material in the game will be created entirely by real writers. "Larian is creating all the content manually," he affirmed.
Larian is constantly expanding our team of storytellers and are currently assembling narrative groups.
Since visual development is being particularly called out — we presently have over twenty concept artists and have job openings for further talent.
All our efforts we do is incremental and designed to enabling creatives to spend more time on making content.
Every ML tool implemented properly is supplementary to a artist's routine, never a stand-in for their talent.
Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision
The revelation of AI usage at first generated unease among portions of the community. In response, Vincke issued more elaboration on online platforms.
"Our team utilizes machine learning to research ideas, in the same way we use search engines and reference books," he wrote. "In the initial planning process we use it as a rough outline for layout which we then substitute with hand-crafted illustrations."
He noted, "We've hired creatives for their inherent skill, not for their willingness to follow what a algorithm proposes."
Focused Uses for Machine Learning
Vincke had in the past outlined the company's targeted method to this technology, defining its use into three main functions:
- Automation of Tedious Tasks: Areas like refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and Larian-specific work like adapting animations for different models.
- Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using tools to quickly build rough models of gameplay ideas to test concepts ahead of complete development.
- Experimental Frontiers: Exploring how machine learning could one day facilitate emergent reactivity, particularly in creating dynamic reactions in a vast role-playing world.
He specifically affirmed that core creative domains — including visual art — are not fields where the team is cutting creative talent. On the contrary, Larian is recruiting more in these very positions.
"Our studio is not shipping a game with AI-generated content, and we are certainly not planning on reducing teams to substitute them with artificial intelligence," Vincke summarized.
