The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Clarifies Its Use of Generative AI for New Project

The studio behind popular titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just teased its next major project, sparking immense hype within the gaming community. However, follow-up comments from the company's co-founder have introduced nuance to the discussion, focusing on the studio's approach toward generative artificial intelligence.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a new clarification, Swen Vincke outlined that the team is employing generative AI for specific supporting tasks. These involve developing PowerPoint slides, creating early-stage concept art, and drafting draft text.

Crucially, Vincke emphasized that the final material in the game will be authored entirely by real artists. "Our team is creating all the content ourselves," he said.

Larian is actively expanding our roster of storytellers and are currently assembling dedicated writer rooms.

Given that this area is being explicitly referenced — we presently have over twenty concept artists and have job openings for additional artists.

All our efforts we do is supplementary and focused on enabling creatives to spend additional energy on the creative process.

Any AI system used well is a boost to a developer's workflow, never a stand-in for their craft.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of AI usage originally generated unease among some the community. In reply, Vincke provided further detail on public forums.

"Our team utilizes these tools to gather inspiration, in the same way we use search engines and reference books," he wrote. "During the initial ideation stages we use it as a rough outline for layout which we then replace with hand-crafted artwork."

He added, "We've hired creatives for their unique talent, not for their ability to replicate what a machine suggests."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had previously broken down the team's focused approach to this technology, defining its use into primary functions:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This encompasses refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and Larian-specific work like adapting animations for different models.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using technology to speedily create rough models of mechanics to experiment with concepts prior to full production.
• Future Potential for Gameplay: Investigating how machine learning could one day enhance new forms of reactivity, especially in creating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He explicitly affirmed that core creative disciplines — such as writing — are are absolutely not fields where the company is reducing creative involvement. Conversely, Larian is expanding its staff in these very positions.

"We are neither releasing a game with AI-generated content, and we are certainly not looking at cutting teams to substitute them with AI," Vincke concluded.