Larian CEO Says "A Lot Has Been Lost In Translation" Amid Divinity's AI Blowback

Larian Studios, fresh off the announcement of their upcoming RPG Divinity, has faced a week of online debate regarding their approach to AI tools in game development. The discussion was sparked by an interview with Bloomberg, and CEO Swen Vincke, along with other members of the studio, have been actively participating in the online discourse.

In response to the week's backlash, Larian is now attempting to clarify their position on AI usage in Divinity's development. Vincke stated on Twitter that "a lot has become lost in translation" since the game's announcement.

Vincke emphasized that Larian's core philosophy centers on agency, with the goal of benefiting their teams, games, and players. He added that their success stems from empowering individuals to work in their own way, allowing them to maximize their skills and craft to create the best possible RPGs.

He stated that evaluating new technologies is a responsible move, but any process that doesn't align with the studio's values will be changed.

To further address concerns and alleviate pressure on Vincke, Larian will host an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session after the holidays. Representatives from various departments within the studio will be available to directly answer questions about Divinity and the development process. The date for the AMA will be announced in the new year.

The controversy arose after Vincke revealed that Larian is using generative AI tools for development processes on Divinity. While he clarified that AI would not be present in the game itself – stating that everything is created by human actors and written by the team – Larian developers are using AI to insert placeholder text and generate concept art for the highly anticipated RPG.

The announcement of AI implementation in Divinity's development led to criticism from fans and other developers. Vincke initially responded to the backlash by stating that they were not "pushing hard" for AI or replacing concept artists and that the studio was expanding its team of artists.

Larian's stance on AI is not entirely new. Earlier this year, Vincke made similar comments in an interview with GameSpot, mentioning that the studio was using machine-learning tools to automate tasks considered undesirable.