Swen Vincke's AI Spellbook: Larian's Using Generative Tech, But Your Next Divinity Won't Feel Like It

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer · Tue Dec 16 2025

Larian Studios is dabbling in generative AI for development tasks like concept art and placeholder text, but CEO Swen Vincke confirms their new Divinity game will be entirely human-made, committing to a crafted experience despite aiming to cut down production time.

Right, so Larian – the legends who gave us Baldur's Gate 3 – are back in the news, and this time it's not just about their next epic RPG (though we'll get to that!). It's about how they're *building* it. Specifically, generative AI.

You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, but you're not quite sure if it's *you* or the arcane surge that did the heavy lifting? That's kinda the vibe around AI in game development right now, and Larian's CEO, Swen Vincke, has just spilled the tea on their approach. This news comes to us via a chat Vincke had with Bloomberg, following the reveal of their new Divinity game at The Game Awards, originally reported by Ed Nightingale over at Eurogamer.

Now, before anyone starts clutching their pearls about robots taking over storytelling, here’s the kicker: while Larian *is* using generative AI in their development process, Vincke made it crystal clear that your new Divinity adventure won't contain anything AI-generated in the final, player-facing game. We're talking behind-the-scenes stuff, like concept art to spark inspiration, placeholder text to get an idea of flow, or expanding on internal presentations.

Think of it less like an AI writing the epic sagas and more like a digital intern fetching a bazillion different styles of concept art for the human artists to ponder. Handy, sure, but not exactly penning the next 'Oh, you *bastard*' moment that makes Baldur's Gate 3 so memorable. It sounds like they're dipping their toes, not diving headfirst into the algorithmic abyss.

And get this – Vincke admitted it hasn't "massively improved efficiency" *yet*. See? My gentle skepticism detector wasn't pinging for nothing! Often, when big tech is thrown into creative processes, there's this immediate promise of warp-speed production. Larian, however, seems to be treating it more like a new, slightly unpredictable tool in the shed, rather than a magic wand that halves development time overnight.

But why even bother, then? Well, after the colossal undertaking that was Baldur's Gate 3 – a game so sprawling it practically needed its own postcode – Larian is looking to trim the fat on development time for Divinity. AI is one potential lever, but they're also doing things like developing quests and storylines in parallel (rather than one after the other, like a classic RPG fetch-quest chain), and, naturally, growing the studio itself.

This commitment to the human element is what truly sets Larian apart, mate. Vincke stressed that in Divinity, "everything is human actors; we're writing everything ourselves." Fair dinkum! In an era where some corners of the industry are flirting with AI-generated dialogue, voice lines, or even entire character models for 'efficiency,' Larian is doubling down on the handcrafted experience. It's a proper vote of confidence in their incredibly talented team.

Vincke also touched on some "pushback internally" regarding AI use, but believes "at this point everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we're using it." That's a crucial insight, isn't it? It tells us Larian isn't just dictating policy, but fostering a dialogue with their creators. They're navigating this new digital frontier with transparency and respect for their human wizards.

Speaking of growth, Vincke also mused on the challenges of expansion. "I have to be large, otherwise I can't make my video game," he observed, lamenting that "size exposes you to new problems that you couldn't imagine existed." It's a reminder that even for a studio riding high on success, the business of making games is riddled with unexpected dragon encounters. This insight, along with his earlier comments at GDC last year – where he stated AI is "certainly not a replacement for developers" but "something that allows us to do more stuff" – paints a picture of a studio that's experimenting, yes, but with a very grounded, developer-first philosophy. They're looking for augmentation, not automation, for their core creative output.

So, what's the long and short of it for us gamers? Well, it means that Larian, the masters of the epic RPG, are still committed to delivering stories and worlds that feel deeply, authentically human. They're playing with the new tech, absolutely, but they're not letting it dictate the soul of their games. The forthcoming Divinity game, which Vincke excitedly called "us unleashed" and confirmed will be a turn-based RPG (huzzah!), sounds like it's going to be everything we love about Larian, distilled and refined, without the slightly uncanny valley feeling some AI-driven content can bring.

Plus, a little bonus for those still adventuring in Rivellon: Larian recently dropped a current-gen upgrade for Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Another sign they care about their legacy, too.

It's a fascinating tightrope walk, isn't it? Larian is embracing the future of development without compromising the artisanal quality we expect. They're using AI as a tool, not a crutch, and that, mate, is the kind of innovative but grounded approach that keeps this digital wizard genuinely excited. It's about finding that sweet spot where magic meets machine, without losing the spark of human creativity. And for a studio like Larian, that's a spell they seem to be casting perfectly.

Tags: Larian Studios, Divinity, AI in Gaming, Game Development, RPG

Original article: Eurogamer