Larian Studios, the creators behind Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity, have faced a wave of criticism regarding their use of generative AI. In response, CEO Swen Vincke has announced a forthcoming AMA (Ask Me Anything) session in the new year, inviting fans and fellow developers to engage directly with Larian’s various departments about the Divinity series and their development processes.
Studio’s Response to Misunderstandings
In a message on Twitter/X, Vincke clarified that since announcing their new game, Divinity, at The Game Awards, much has been misunderstood. He emphasized that “Larian’s DNA is agency” and mentioned the studio’s commitment to embracing new technologies when they benefit their team and projects. However, he acknowledged that their processes are always subject to change if they become inefficient or misaligned with their core values.
It’s been a week since we announced Divinity, our next RPG, and a lot has become lost in translation.
Larian’s DNA is agency. Everything we work towards is to the benefit of our teams, games, and players. A better work day, and a better game. Our successes come from empowering people to work in their own way and bring the best out of their skill & craft, so that we can make the best RPGs we can possibly make.
In that context, it would be irresponsible for us not to evaluate new technologies. However, our processes are always evolving, and where they are not efficient or fail to align with who we are, we will make changes.
To give you more insight, we’ll do an AMA featuring our different departments after the holiday break, in which you’ll get the opportunity to ask us any questions you have about Divinity and our dev process directly.
We’ll announce the date in the new year. In the meantime, I wish you all happy holidays!
Generative AI Controversy
The controversy ignited following Vincke’s comments in recent interviews after the Divinity game announcement. In a Bloomberg interview, he revealed that the studio has been exploring generative AI for tasks such as brainstorming, presentations, and creating placeholder texts. This prompted backlash from players and developers alike, who argued that some of these tasks are inherently artistic and should remain human-driven.
Amidst the uproar, Vincke assured that Larian is not planning to release a game with AI components nor replace human roles with AI. He extended this clarification on social media, stressing that critics are misinterpreting their intentions.
For further insights, a detailed interview with Vincke about Divinity is available, which you can read in full here.