Editorial illustration for Baldur's Gate 3 Developer Larian Pledges No AI Art for Next Game
Baldur's Gate 3 Studio Rejects AI Art in Upcoming Games
Baldur’s Gate 3 studio vows no AI-generated art or writing in Divinity
In the heated debate over AI's role in creative industries, Larian Studios stands out as a principled outlier. The acclaimed game developer behind Baldur's Gate 3 is taking a firm stance against AI-generated content in its upcoming projects.
Swen Vincke, the studio's founder, isn't just making casual promises. He's drawing a line in the sand about artistic integrity in game development. While many studios quietly experiment with generative AI, Larian is publicly committing to human-created art and writing.
The gaming world has been watching closely since AI tools began disrupting creative workflows. But Larian seems determined to prioritize human creativity over technological shortcuts.
So when Vincke speaks about their approach to the next Divinity game, developers and gamers alike lean in. His candid comments offer a glimpse into how a top-tier studio navigates the complex intersection of technology and artistic expression.
"So first off - there is not going to be any GenAI art in Divinity," Vincke wrote in response to a question on Reddit. Last month, in an interview with Bloomberg, Vincke stated that while they weren't using AI-generated assets in Divinity, the team was experimenting with AI tools "to explore ideas, flesh out PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art and write placeholder text." His comments were immediately and fiercely criticized online by gamers, developers, and former Larian employees. In response, Vincke issued a statement clarifying that they were not using the tool to generate concept art, but as something artists could use to iterate on ideas faster.
Larian's stance on AI art reveals the ongoing tension in creative industries. The studio's quick pivot away from AI experimentation after community backlash highlights how sensitive developers are to potential artistic disruption.
Swen Vincke's initial openness to AI tools, using them for concept exploration and placeholder content, triggered immediate pushback from gamers and industry professionals. His subsequent clear statement about no AI-generated art in Divinity suggests the studio is listening carefully to its community.
The episode underscores the complex relationship between technological idea and artistic integrity. Larian seems committed to maintaining human creativity, even as AI technologies continue advancing rapidly.
For now, the studio's approach appears straightforward: AI can assist in background processes, but won't replace human artistic vision. Still, the rapid shift in Vincke's public statements hints at the ongoing debate surrounding AI's role in game development.
Fans of Larian's work can likely expect the same handcrafted approach that made Baldur's Gate 3 a critical success. The message is clear: human creativity remains at the core of their game design philosophy.
Further Reading
- Larian isn't using generative AI for Divinity art anymore - Windows Central
- Larian rules out usage of generative AI art for Divinity and ... - GoSUGamers
- Larian Studios walks back generative AI use in Divinity ... - NotebookCheck
- Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity lead writer says AI-generated ... - GamesRadar
Related Reading
LLMs & Generative AI Ant Group unveils Ring-1T, first open-source trillion-parameter reasoning model
LLMs & Generative AI ChatGPT Health Event Shows AI Modernizing Dev Workflows, GitLab Unveils Plans
LLMs & Generative AI Gen AI app sessions up fivefold, downloads jump 778% as ChatGPT leads traffic
From Archives Microsoft launches retail AI agents while Gmail’s Gemini receives upgrade
From Archives Engineer Verbeek Saves USD 20 Million Annually After Mother Flags Prompt Redundancy
Common Questions Answered
What specific stance has Larian Studios taken regarding AI-generated art in their upcoming games?
Larian Studios, led by founder Swen Vincke, has firmly committed to not using any AI-generated art in their next game Divinity. This decision comes after initial experimentation with AI tools for concept exploration, which was met with significant criticism from the gaming community and industry professionals.
How did the gaming community respond to Larian's initial exploration of AI tools?
When Vincke mentioned experimenting with AI for developing concept art and placeholder text, he was immediately and fiercely criticized online by gamers, developers, and even former Larian employees. The intense backlash prompted the studio to quickly clarify and reinforce their commitment to human-created artistic content.
What types of AI tools was Larian Studios initially considering using?
According to Vincke, Larian was exploring AI tools for specific non-art purposes such as exploring ideas, developing PowerPoint presentations, creating concept art drafts, and generating placeholder text. However, they explicitly stated they would not use AI for final art assets in their games.