Larian Studios Details Its Use of AI Tools for New Project

The studio behind acclaimed titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently shown its next major project, creating immense hype within the industry. However, subsequent statements from the studio's figurehead have introduced a new dimension to the conversation, focusing on the team's philosophy toward AI tools.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a latest statement, Larian's director explained that the team is using AI technology for certain preliminary tasks. These include developing presentation materials, producing early-stage concept art, and creating draft copy.

Crucially, Vincke stressed that the end assets in the game will be crafted entirely by human writers. "Larian is writing everything ourselves," he stated.

Our studio is actively growing our roster of storytellers and are actively assembling dedicated writer rooms.

As visual development is being particularly referenced — we presently have twenty-three concept artists and have job openings for further creatives.

Everything we do is incremental and aimed at letting our team spend additional energy on making content.

Every AI system implemented properly is additive to a developer's process, never a stand-in for their skill.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The revelation of AI usage originally generated backlash among some the player base. In response, Vincke provided further detail on online platforms.

"We use machine learning to gather inspiration, similar to we use Google and reference books," he stated. "In the initial planning process we use it as a basic framework for structure which we then swap out with hand-crafted concept art."

He noted, "Our studio recruits artists for their creative vision, not for their ability to execute what a machine suggests."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had earlier outlined the team's targeted strategy to AI and ML, defining its use into key pillars:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: This includes refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and technical processes like retargeting animations.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using tools to quickly build basic models of scenarios to experiment with concepts ahead of complete production.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Investigating how machine learning could in the future enhance emergent reactivity, specifically in creating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He specifically affirmed that core creative disciplines — such as writing — are are absolutely not departments where the studio is replacing artistic input. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these very fields.

"Larian is not releasing a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not planning on reducing teams to replace them with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.