Larian Studios Details Its Application of Machine Learning for Next Divinity

The developer behind acclaimed titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently teased its next major project, creating significant excitement within the player base. However, follow-up remarks from the company's co-founder have introduced a new dimension to the conversation, focusing on the studio's stance toward generative artificial intelligence.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a new clarification, Larian's director explained that the team is employing machine learning for certain preliminary functions. These include enhancing pitch decks, creating early-stage visual ideas, and drafting draft text.

Importantly, Vincke emphasized that the end material in the game will be authored exclusively by actual creatives. "Larian is creating every line in-house," he affirmed.

Our studio is actively increasing our team of writers and are busily putting together dedicated writer rooms.

Since this area is being particularly referenced — we right now have over twenty visual developers and have job openings for more talent.

Each initiative we do is supplementary and designed to enabling creatives to spend greater focus on making content.

Any ML tool implemented properly is a boost to a creative team workflow, never a stand-in for their talent.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The revelation of employing this technology initially provoked concern among a segment of the community. In reply, Vincke provided additional clarification on online platforms.

"We use these tools to explore references, in the same way we use the internet and art books," he stated. "During the very early ideation stages we use it as a simple sketch for structure which we then replace with authentic concept art."

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

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had earlier outlined the studio's targeted method to AI and ML, grouping its use into three main functions:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: Areas like polishing mocap data, dialogue cleanup, and technical processes like adapting animations for different models.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using tools to rapidly prototype basic models of mechanics to experiment with concepts ahead of full development.
• Experimental Frontiers: Researching how machine learning could eventually create innovative player agency, particularly in creating unforeseen permutations in a detailed game universe.

He explicitly affirmed that core creative areas — like music composition — are are in no way areas where the company is reducing human talent. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these exact fields.

"We are neither shipping a game with machine-made assets, nor planning on trimming down creatives to swap them out with AI," Vincke stated definitively.