The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Clarifies Its Application of AI Tools for Next Divinity Game

The studio behind hit RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just teased its next major project, generating a wave of excitement within the gaming community. However, subsequent remarks from the studio's figurehead have brought a new dimension to the narrative, focusing on the studio's philosophy toward AI tools.

AI as a Creative Assistant, Not a Substitute

In a new message, the studio's founder explained that the developer is utilizing AI technology for specific ancillary tasks. These encompass developing presentation materials, producing rough concept art, and writing placeholder copy.

Crucially, Vincke stressed that the end content in the game will be created exclusively by real artists. "Larian is developing every line ourselves," he said.

Larian is actively expanding our team of storytellers and are busily putting together writing teams.

Since visual development is being explicitly called out — we right now have 23 artistic staff and have roles to fill for additional creatives.

Everything we do is supplementary and focused on enabling creatives to spend additional energy on the creative process.

Every ML tool applied correctly is supplementary to a developer's routine, never a stand-in for their talent.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The news of AI usage initially provoked unease among a segment of the player base. In response, Vincke issued more elaboration on online platforms.

"We use AI tools to explore references, similar to we use search engines and art books," he stated. "During the very early planning process we use it as a basic framework for layout which we then swap out with hand-crafted artwork."

He added, "Larian brings on talent for their inherent skill, not for their willingness to execute what a AI generates."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had earlier detailed the team's targeted approach to AI and ML, categorizing its use into primary areas:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: Areas like polishing mocap data, dialogue cleanup, and Larian-specific work like adjusting assets for various species.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using tools to speedily create basic models of mechanics to experiment with concepts before expensive development.
• Experimental Frontiers: Exploring how AI could one day enhance emergent reactivity, particularly in managing player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.

He explicitly stated that central narrative areas — including writing — are are in no way areas where the team is replacing artistic involvement. On the contrary, Larian is recruiting more in these precise positions.

"We are neither launching a game with AI-generated content, and we are certainly not looking at reducing creatives to swap them out with AI," Vincke concluded.