The Divinity Developer Details Its Implementation of Generative AI for Next Divinity Game
The developer behind hit role-playing games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just shown its new project, generating significant excitement within the industry. However, follow-up remarks from the company's co-founder have introduced nuance to the discussion, touching on the developer's approach toward AI tools.
Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs
In a latest message, the studio's founder detailed that the team is utilizing AI technology for certain preliminary purposes. These encompass enhancing presentation materials, generating initial visual ideas, and creating temporary text.
Importantly, Vincke made clear that the end assets in the game will be authored exclusively by human artists. "Larian is creating every line manually," he stated.
We are constantly growing our team of writers and are busily putting together narrative groups.
Since this area is being particularly called out — we right now have 23 visual developers 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 implemented properly is a boost to a creative team workflow, not a substitute for their craft.
Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision
The admission of AI usage originally provoked concern among a segment of the community. In response, Vincke provided additional clarification on social media.
"At Larian, we employ AI tools to research ideas, similar to we use the internet and reference books," he explained. "In the very early planning process we use it as a rough outline for composition which we then replace with hand-crafted artwork."
He noted, "Our studio recruits talent for their unique talent, not for their willingness to execute what a algorithm proposes."
Three Pillars of Practical Application
Vincke had in the past broken down the company's focused strategy to AI and ML, grouping its use into key pillars:
- Streamlining Repetitive Work: This encompasses refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and pipeline-specific tasks like retargeting animations.
- Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using tools to rapidly prototype rough versions of scenarios to validate concepts ahead of complete implementation.
- Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how AI could eventually create innovative reactivity, specifically in managing player-driven narratives in a detailed game universe.
He specifically noted that central narrative disciplines — like music composition — are not departments where the studio is cutting creative talent. Conversely, Larian is recruiting more in these very positions.
"Larian is not launching a game with AI-generated content, nor considering reducing staff to swap them out with AI," Vincke stated definitively.
