The Divinity Developer Clarifies Its Use of Machine Learning for New Project
The developer behind popular role-playing games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just unveiled its next major project, generating a wave of anticipation within the gaming community. However, follow-up remarks from the studio's co-founder have added nuance to the conversation, focusing on the team's philosophy toward generative artificial intelligence.
Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs
In a recent message, Larian's director outlined that the team is employing AI technology for certain ancillary functions. These include fleshing out pitch decks, producing rough artistic references, and writing draft copy.
Importantly, Vincke stressed that the shipping assets in the game will be created solely by human creatives. "Larian is writing everything manually," he affirmed.
Our studio is actively increasing our pool of storytellers and are currently forming narrative groups.
As visual development is being explicitly referenced — we right now have twenty-three visual developers and have roles to fill for more artists.
Everything we do is additive and designed to having people spend greater focus on making content.
Any ML tool used well is a boost to a developer's process, not a substitute for their craft.
Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision
The news of AI usage at first generated unease among a segment of the fanbase. In reaction, Vincke issued more elaboration on social media.
"Our team utilizes machine learning to gather inspiration, in the same way we use search engines and reference books," he wrote. "During the very early planning process we use it as a basic framework for layout which we then replace with authentic illustrations."
He added, "Our studio recruits artists for their inherent skill, not for their ability to replicate what a machine suggests."
Three Pillars of Practical Application
Vincke had earlier broken down the team's focused method to AI and ML, grouping its use into primary areas:
- Handling Monotonous Jobs: This encompasses polishing mocap data, audio processing, and pipeline-specific tasks like retargeting animations.
- Accelerated Iteration: Using systems to rapidly prototype simple models of gameplay ideas to validate concepts ahead of expensive implementation.
- Experimental Frontiers: Researching how machine learning could one day facilitate emergent gameplay, particularly in managing unforeseen permutations in a vast role-playing world.
He explicitly stated that core creative domains — such as visual art — are are absolutely not areas where the company is cutting human involvement. On the contrary, Larian is expanding its staff in these exact roles.
"Larian is not launching a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not planning on reducing creatives to swap them out with AI," Vincke summarized.
