The Divinity Developer Details Its Use of Generative AI for Next Divinity

The developer behind hit titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just teased its new project, creating a wave of hype within the player base. However, subsequent remarks from the studio's figurehead have added a new dimension to the conversation, addressing the studio's approach toward machine learning.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent statement, Swen Vincke detailed that the team is utilizing machine learning for certain supporting tasks. These encompass developing PowerPoint slides, producing rough artistic references, and writing placeholder copy.

Notably, Vincke emphasized that the end assets in the game will be crafted solely by real artists. "We are creating everything manually," he affirmed.

Our studio is constantly increasing our pool of writers and are busily forming narrative groups.

As visual development is being specifically called out — we right now have 23 visual developers and have roles to fill for more artists.

Everything we do is supplementary and designed to having people spend additional energy on the creative process.

Any AI system used well is a boost to a artist's routine, not a replacement for their craft.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The news of AI usage initially generated backlash among a segment of the community. In response, Vincke offered additional elaboration on social media.

"At Larian, we employ AI tools to explore references, in the same way we use the internet and reference books," he wrote. "During the initial planning process we use it as a rough outline for structure which we then replace with hand-crafted concept art."

He continued, "We've hired artists for their creative vision, not for their willingness to execute what a machine suggests."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had previously outlined the team's focused approach to AI and ML, defining its use into three main pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This includes refining animations, voice editing, and pipeline-specific tasks like adjusting assets for various species.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using systems to quickly build rough versions of scenarios to test concepts before expensive implementation.
• Future Potential for Gameplay: Researching how machine learning could in the future create innovative player agency, specifically in managing player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.

He specifically noted that core creative disciplines — like writing — are are absolutely not fields where the studio is reducing artistic talent. In fact, Larian is expanding its staff in these precise positions.

"Our studio is not shipping a game with machine-made assets, nor looking at reducing staff to replace them with artificial intelligence," Vincke concluded.