Baldur's Gate 3 Developer Larian Defends Itself As Fans React To...

Larian says that nothing AI-generated will appear in its games, and that it does not "develop concept art" with AI tools.

Larian CEO Swen Vincke said earlier this year that the Baldur's Gate 3 studio is using generative AI to automate certain prototyping tasks, such as creating mock levels for designers to work with before replacing them with handmade art. The comments didn't attract much notice at the time, but similar remarks in a new Bloomberg interview about Larian's next big RPG, Divinity, have kicked up a storm of complaints which the studio is now pushing back on.

In Bloomberg's words, Larian has been "pushing hard" on generative AI and its developers "often use AI tools to explore ideas, flesh out PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art and write placeholder text."

Vincke reiterated in the interview that the studio isn't using generative AI to create any of the art, voices, or writing we see in its games. After the interview was published, he also said that "pushing hard" isn't a correct characterization of Larian's AI policy and that AI is not being used "to develop concept art" in his view—though it is being used in "the very early ideation stages."

Above: Our post-Game Awards interview with Larian about its next RPG.

The Larian CEO has previously rejected the idea that generative AI tools can replace creative workers, saying in April for instance that when the studio needed more concept art, it hired 15 more concept artists. But word of Larian's generative AI use has been taken as a betrayal by numerous fans, and one ex-employee has urged the company to reconsider its stance.

Artist Selena Tobin, who's credited as a junior environment artist on Baldur's Gate 3, said on Bluesky that she loved working at Larian "until AI."

"Reconsider and change your direction, like, yesterday," wrote Tobin. "Show your employees some respect. they are world-class & do not need AI assistance to come up with amazing ideas."

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Elsewhere, fans are saying they won't play future Larian games, expressing feelings of disappointment and betrayal, and speculating on the likelihood of AI-generated placeholders slipping into Divinity, a phenomenon we've seen several times in other games, including this year's Game Awards winner Clair Obscur.

Source: PC Gamer