The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Details Its Implementation of Machine Learning for Next Divinity
The studio behind popular RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just unveiled its new project, generating a wave of hype within the gaming community. However, recent statements from the company's figurehead have added nuance to the discussion, focusing on the team's approach toward AI tools.
A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement
In a new statement, Larian's director outlined that the company is utilizing generative AI for particular ancillary tasks. These involve fleshing out presentation materials, creating early-stage artistic references, and creating draft copy.
Notably, Vincke stressed that the shipping content in the game will be created exclusively by actual creatives. "Our team is writing all the content manually," he affirmed.
We are actively growing our pool of concept artists and are busily putting together narrative groups.
Since visual development is being particularly mentioned — we currently have over twenty artistic staff and have positions available for more talent.
All our efforts we do is additive and designed to having people spend more time on actual creation.
Any ML tool used well is supplementary to a artist's process, never a stand-in for their skill.
Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision
The revelation of employing this technology at first provoked concern among some the community. In reaction, Vincke issued further detail on social media.
"Our team utilizes AI tools to gather inspiration, in the same way we use search engines and art books," he wrote. "In the conceptual planning process we use it as a basic framework for structure which we then replace with authentic illustrations."
He noted, "Our studio recruits talent for their creative vision, not for their capacity to execute what a AI generates."
Key Areas of AI Integration
Vincke had previously detailed the studio's targeted approach to this technology, categorizing its use into primary areas:
- Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like polishing mocap data, dialogue cleanup, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
- Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using technology to speedily create rough versions of mechanics to experiment with concepts ahead of full development.
- Long-Term Aspirations: Investigating how machine learning could one day create innovative gameplay, especially in managing player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.
He clearly noted that central narrative domains — like writing — are are in no way departments where the studio is reducing human involvement. On the contrary, Larian is recruiting more in these exact fields.
"We are not shipping a game with AI-generated content, and we are certainly not looking at trimming down teams to swap them out with artificial intelligence," Vincke concluded.
