The Divinity Developer Clarifies Its Use of Machine Learning for Upcoming Divinity

The developer behind hit RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently teased its upcoming project, creating immense hype within the gaming community. However, subsequent statements from the company's lead designer have introduced nuance to the conversation, touching on the developer's stance toward generative artificial intelligence.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a new statement, the studio's founder explained that the developer is utilizing machine learning for particular supporting tasks. These encompass fleshing out pitch decks, generating initial concept art, and drafting draft text.

Notably, Vincke emphasized that the end content in the game will be crafted exclusively by actual creatives. "Larian is creating everything manually," he said.

We are continuously expanding our pool of writers and are currently putting together dedicated writer rooms.

Since this area is being explicitly mentioned — we presently have 23 artistic staff and have roles to fill for further talent.

Each initiative we do is incremental and designed to enabling creatives to spend greater focus on actual creation.

Any machine learning application implemented properly is additive to a artist's workflow, not a substitute for their craft.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The news of AI usage originally provoked concern among portions of the player base. In reply, Vincke issued further detail on social media.

"Our team utilizes these tools to explore references, similar to we use search engines and art books," he explained. "During the very early ideation stages we use it as a basic framework for composition which we then substitute with hand-crafted illustrations."

He noted, "Our studio recruits talent for their inherent skill, not for their capacity to execute what a algorithm proposes."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had earlier broken down the company's targeted method to AI and ML, defining its use into key pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This encompasses motion capture cleaning, audio processing, and pipeline-specific tasks like adjusting assets for various species.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using systems to speedily create simple versions of scenarios to experiment with concepts ahead of complete production.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how AI could in the future create new forms of player agency, specifically in managing player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He clearly affirmed that key artistic disciplines — like music composition — are not areas where the studio is cutting human involvement. On the contrary, Larian is expanding its staff in these very positions.

"Larian is neither shipping a game with AI-generated content, nor considering cutting creatives to substitute them with AI," Vincke summarized.