The Divinity Developer Explains Its Implementation of Generative AI for New Project

The team behind hit titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently teased its new project, sparking significant excitement within the player base. However, follow-up remarks from the studio's lead designer have added nuance to the conversation, focusing on the developer's approach toward machine learning.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a latest statement, Larian's director outlined that the team is utilizing generative AI for certain ancillary purposes. These include developing presentation materials, creating initial visual ideas, and writing temporary text.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the end assets in the game will be crafted solely by human creatives. "Our team is creating all the content in-house," he stated.

Larian is constantly growing our roster of concept artists and are busily forming dedicated writer rooms.

Given that visual development is being specifically mentioned — we right now have over twenty concept artists and have positions available for further creatives.

All our efforts we do is additive and aimed at enabling creatives to spend greater focus on the creative process.

Every AI system applied correctly is additive to a creative team workflow, not a replacement for their talent.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The news of using AI at first sparked unease among a segment of the player base. In reply, Vincke offered additional elaboration on public forums.

"At Larian, we employ these tools to research ideas, just like we use Google and reference books," he wrote. "In the initial ideation stages we use it as a basic framework for composition which we then substitute with original artwork."

He added, "Our studio recruits talent for their creative vision, not for their willingness to execute what a algorithm proposes."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had in the past broken down the company's targeted approach to AI and ML, grouping its use into three main functions:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like motion capture cleaning, voice editing, and technical processes like retargeting animations.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using tools to rapidly prototype rough mock-ups of gameplay ideas to validate concepts before full implementation.
• Future Potential for Gameplay: Researching how machine learning could one day facilitate new forms of gameplay, particularly in managing player-driven narratives in a detailed game universe.

He specifically stated that core creative domains — like writing — are not areas where the team is reducing artistic input. In fact, Larian is actively hiring in these precise positions.

"Our studio is neither shipping a game with any AI components, nor looking at trimming down teams to swap them out with artificial intelligence," Vincke concluded.