Larian Studios Clarifies Its Use of Machine Learning for Next Project
The studio behind acclaimed RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just shown its next major project, sparking significant excitement within the gaming community. However, follow-up comments from the company's figurehead have added nuance to the conversation, focusing on the studio's approach toward generative artificial intelligence.
Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs
In a latest message, Swen Vincke outlined that the team is using generative AI for particular preliminary tasks. These involve fleshing out presentation materials, creating rough artistic references, and writing draft copy.
Importantly, Vincke emphasized that the end content in the game will be authored exclusively by real artists. "We are creating all the content ourselves," he stated.
We are actively increasing our team of concept artists and are currently assembling writing teams.
Since visual development is being specifically referenced — we presently have over twenty concept artists and have positions available for additional talent.
Each initiative we do is incremental and aimed at letting our team spend more time on actual creation.
Any ML tool used well is additive to a creative team workflow, not a replacement for their talent.
Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent
The news of AI usage at first generated backlash among some the community. In reply, Vincke offered more detail on social media.
"Our team utilizes machine learning to research ideas, in the same way we use Google and physical media," he stated. "In the conceptual ideation stages we use it as a rough outline for composition which we then swap out with original artwork."
He continued, "Our studio recruits creatives for their creative vision, not for their willingness to execute what a machine suggests."
Key Areas of AI Integration
Vincke had previously outlined the studio's focused approach to AI and ML, defining its use into key pillars:
- Automation of Tedious Tasks: This includes refining animations, audio processing, and pipeline-specific tasks like adapting animations for different models.
- Accelerated Iteration: Using systems to quickly build basic mock-ups of mechanics to experiment with concepts before full implementation.
- Long-Term Aspirations: Researching how machine learning could eventually facilitate emergent player agency, particularly in creating player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.
He specifically noted that key artistic domains — such as music composition — are not areas where the team is reducing creative input. On the contrary, Larian is actively hiring in these precise fields.
"Larian is not releasing a game with machine-made assets, nor looking at cutting teams to swap them out with AI," Vincke stated definitively.
