The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Details Its Application of Machine Learning for Upcoming Divinity

The team behind acclaimed role-playing games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently unveiled its upcoming project, generating a wave of anticipation within the industry. However, subsequent comments from the studio's co-founder have introduced clarity to the narrative, touching on the studio's approach toward AI tools.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a latest clarification, Swen Vincke outlined that the team is utilizing AI technology for particular preliminary purposes. These include fleshing out presentation materials, generating rough artistic references, and writing placeholder copy.

Importantly, Vincke emphasized that the shipping assets in the game will be crafted entirely by human creatives. "Our team is writing everything manually," he affirmed.

We are continuously growing our roster of writers and are busily putting together writing teams.

Since this area is being particularly referenced — we right now have 23 concept artists and have roles to fill for more talent.

Everything we do is additive and focused on having people spend additional energy on the creative process.

Every ML tool used well is supplementary to a creative team workflow, not a replacement for their craft.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of using AI initially provoked backlash among a segment of the community. In reaction, Vincke offered further clarification on social media.

"At Larian, we employ these tools to explore references, in the same way we use search engines and physical media," he explained. "During the conceptual brainstorming phase 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 capacity to replicate what a machine suggests."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had earlier outlined the company's practical strategy to AI and ML, categorizing its use into key functions:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: This encompasses refining animations, voice editing, and Larian-specific work like adjusting assets for various species.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using systems to rapidly prototype rough versions of mechanics to experiment with concepts before expensive implementation.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Investigating how machine learning could one day create emergent gameplay, especially in managing player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He clearly stated that core creative disciplines — like visual art — are not departments where the team is cutting human involvement. Conversely, Larian is actively hiring in these very roles.

"We are neither launching a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not planning on cutting teams to replace them with AI," Vincke stated definitively.