Larian Studios has confirmed using generative AI tools in early development stages for its upcoming Divinity game, sparking significant backlash from fans and former employees. CEO Swen Vincke insists the technology is additive and will not appear in the final product, emphasizing human creativity. The controversy follows the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3 and the recent announcement of the new turn-based RPG at The Game Awards.
Background on Larian's Success and New Project
Larian Studios achieved unprecedented success with Baldur's Gate 3, which sold 20 million copies and won multiple Game of the Year awards. Following this, the studio announced its next project, a new Divinity game, at The Game Awards last week. Described by CEO Swen Vincke as 'us unleashed,' the title is a turn-based RPG built on a custom system designed specifically for video games, moving away from the Dungeons & Dragons framework used in Baldur's Gate 3. It will feature enhanced cinematic storytelling, parallel quest development to shorten production time, and a new game engine. An early access release is likely, though no specific date has been set.
Vincke has acknowledged the pressure from Baldur's Gate 3's success, stating in an interview with PC Gamer, 'The weight of the expectations weighs high. We're trying not to think about it, because we have to make our own thing.' He noted that development has humbled the team, requiring them to relearn processes despite past experience.
Generative AI Integration and Backlash
In a Bloomberg interview, Vincke revealed Larian's use of generative AI for tasks like PowerPoint presentations, placeholder text, and early concept art exploration. He clarified that the studio has 23 concept artists and is hiring more, with AI serving as a tool to 'explore things' and make artists' lives easier, not replace them. 'Everything is human actors; we're writing everything ourselves' for Divinity, Vincke emphasized, promising no AI-generated content in the final game.
The announcement triggered swift backlash on social media. Fans expressed disappointment, with one tweeting, 'If you're using generative AI for concept art then yes, you DID use AI generated content in your game.' Former Larian employees voiced concerns, including an artist who said, 'I loved working at Larian until AI. Reconsider and change your direction.' Some current staff have also publicly opposed the use. Vincke responded via statements to IGN and on X, reiterating that AI is 'additive to a creative team's workflow' and that Larian is expanding its creative teams, including writer rooms and actors.
Implications for Development
Vincke addressed internal pushback, claiming 'everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we're using it.' The studio aims to reduce development time compared to Baldur's Gate 3's expansive scope by growing its size and using tools like AI efficiently. However, skepticism persists, with critics questioning if AI's role will remain limited. Larian recently released a current-gen upgrade for Divinity: Original Sin 2 on platforms like PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, maintaining support for its legacy titles amid the controversy.
