Larian CEO denies AI cuts, says generative AI hasn't boosted efficiency
Why does the Larian story matter now? The studio’s founder‑CEO, Swen Vincke, has been under fire after rumors suggested the company was slashing staff to swap humans for algorithms. Those whispers intensified when Bloomberg noted Larian’s recent push on generative AI for its upcoming Divinity title.
While the headline‑grabbing narrative implied a sweeping automation effort, Vincke’s own remarks paint a more restrained picture. He acknowledges that the technology hasn’t delivered the efficiency gains many expected, and he insists the game will remain a product of human creativity rather than machine‑generated assets. The tension between public perception and internal reality raises a question for anyone watching the industry’s AI hype: is the buzz translating into tangible productivity, or is it just noise?
Below is Bloomberg’s take on how Larian is actually using AI in Divinity, followed by the CEO’s clarification that “everything is human actors; we…”
Here's what Bloomberg reported about Larian's use of AI in Divinity: Under Vincke, Larian has been pushing hard on generative AI, although the CEO says the technology hasn't led to big gains in efficiency. He says there won't be any AI-generated content in Divinity -- "everything is human actors; we're writing everything ourselves" -- but the creators often use AI tools to explore ideas, flesh out PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art and write placeholder text. The use of generative AI has led to some pushback at Larian, "but I think at this point everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we're using it," Vincke said.
Has Larian’s cautious stance enough to quiet the debate? The studio’s chief, Swen Vincke, told Bloomberg the team experiments with AI for concept sketches and placeholder copy, yet he stresses that those tools have not translated into measurable efficiency gains. Moreover, Vincke told IGN the upcoming Divinity title will contain no AI‑generated assets; every visual and line of dialogue will be crafted by human hands.
Consequently, the company is not cutting staff to replace them with machines, contrary to early speculation. Still, the admission that generative AI is being “pushed hard” while delivering limited returns leaves open questions about future investment. The clarification that “everything is human actors” suggests a deliberate choice to keep the creative pipeline traditional, but whether this approach will remain viable as competitors explore deeper integration is unclear.
Ultimately, Larian’s current position reflects a measured use of AI tools without overhauling its development process, though the long‑term impact on productivity remains uncertain.
Further Reading
- Larian defends itself as fans react to generative AI use: 'I'm not entirely sure we are the ideal target for the level of scorn' - PC Gamer
- Larian CEO Swen Vincke says it's 'naive' to think AI will shorten game development cycles - Virtual Pet List
- RPG dev pushes back against Steam review AI accusations: 'We only worked with real human artists on everything' - PC Gamer
- Swen Vincke on Divinity, Baldur’s Gate 3’s success, and why Larian won’t replace creatives with AI - Bloomberg
- How game studios are really using generative AI (and why it isn’t replacing developers yet) - The Verge
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Common Questions Answered
What did Larian CEO Swen Vincke say about AI-generated content in the upcoming Divinity title?
Vincke stated that the upcoming Divinity title will contain no AI‑generated assets; every visual element and line of dialogue will be created by human hands. He emphasized that while the team experiments with AI for concept sketches and placeholder copy, the final product will be entirely human‑crafted.
Did Larian use generative AI to improve efficiency, according to Swen Vincke?
Vincke acknowledged that generative AI tools have been used for tasks like concept art, PowerPoint presentations, and placeholder text, but he said these experiments have not translated into measurable efficiency gains. Therefore, the technology has not led to the big efficiency improvements some rumors suggested.
Are there staff cuts at Larian to replace humans with AI, as rumored in Bloomberg reports?
Vincke denied any staff reductions aimed at replacing employees with AI, clarifying that the studio is not cutting staff to swap humans for algorithms. He stressed that the use of AI tools remains limited to exploratory work and does not replace human roles.
How does Larian’s use of AI tools differ from creating AI‑generated assets for Divinity?
Larian employs AI tools primarily for internal brainstorming, such as generating concept sketches and placeholder copy, but the final assets—visuals, dialogue, and story elements—are produced manually by the development team. This approach ensures that all published content remains human‑authored despite the exploratory AI usage.
What did Swen Vincke tell IGN about the role of AI in the development of the new Divinity game?
In his interview with IGN, Vincke reiterated that no AI‑generated assets will appear in the new Divinity game and that every line of dialogue and visual will be crafted by humans. He also highlighted that AI tools are only used for internal ideation and have not resulted in tangible efficiency improvements.