Larian Studios has publicly clarified its stance on the use of generative AI in game development following strong community backlash sparked by a recent interview discussing AI-assisted workflows. The response came directly from studio leadership and developers via posts on X, as concerns spread that AI tools were being used to replace concept artists or generate in-game content for the studio’s next project.
Larian CEO Swen Vincke addressed the criticism head-on, strongly rejecting claims that the studio is replacing artists with AI. “Holy f*ck guys we’re not ‘pushing hard’ for or replacing concept artists with AI,” Vincke wrote. He stated that Larian currently employs 72 artists, including 23 concept artists, and confirmed that the studio is actively hiring more. According to Vincke, all artwork produced for Larian games is original and created by human artists.
Vincke clarified that his comments in the interview were specifically about exploration and early ideation, not finished artwork. “I was asked explicitly about concept art and our use of Gen AI. I answered that we use it to explore things. I didn’t say we use it to develop concept art. The artists do that,” he said. He further explained that AI tools are used similarly to reference searches, adding, “We use AI tools to explore references, just like we use google and art books.”
Additional clarification came from Cromwelp (Michael Douse), the Director of Publishing at Larian Studios, who engaged extensively with critics in replies. He emphasized that AI-generated images are not used as final assets and are not handed down as required starting points for artists. Instead, they may be used by individuals to communicate rough ideas more clearly between teams. “The AI part of developing concept here is literally replacing reference searching. Instead of searching books or Google you generate an example,” he explained, stressing that “develop” does not mean “paint.”
Cromwelp also stated that Larian’s approach to AI has been consistent for some time. “We continue to hire people across all departments, not trim,” he said, adding that the studio’s goal is to improve quality of life for developers while ensuring that games do not ship with AI-generated content. “We want to make better games that don’t feature AI content in them,” he wrote, positioning Larian’s stance against broader industry trends.
When questioned about internal disagreement, Cromwelp acknowledged that not every employee may share the same view. “It’s a company of 500 people. That’s a village. In a village you’re gonna have people who disagree,” he said, while maintaining that there is no mandated AI-driven workflow.
Larian also addressed concerns around quality control, stating that safeguards are in place to prevent unintended assets from shipping. Vincke and his team reiterated that all final content in Divinity and future projects will be created by human developers, writers, and performers.
Divinity is Larian Studios’ next major role-playing game following Baldur’s Gate 3. While the studio plans to release it through Early Access, it has already stated that such a release is unlikely in 2026.
