As a big fan of Larian Studios, I was pretty surprised and honestly a little disappointed to hear they’re experimenting with AI. Apparently, they’re using it in the very beginning stages of development for their new game, Divinity – just to help their concept artists gather references. It’s caused a lot of debate online, and a lot of players and fellow developers are criticizing the move, which is understandable. It just feels a bit strange to see a studio known for such incredible, handcrafted worlds potentially relying on AI, even if it’s only for initial inspiration.
Larian Studios, according to director Michael Douse and CEO Swen Vincke, allows its developers to use AI as a helpful option if they choose. They’ve said developers can explore these tools to simplify their work. However, Larian promises that the game Divinity: Original Sin 2 won’t contain any AI-generated content. They view using AI as similar to artists using resources like Google or art books for inspiration and reference.
Despite these promises, people remain angry. Many believe it’s wrong to use AI to create images based on artwork found online, arguing it’s different than an artist simply being inspired by a particular piece.
This situation has sparked a lot of discussion within the game development industry about the appropriate – and inappropriate – uses of AI. Many professionals are sharing their opinions on the matter.
Daniel Vávra, the lead developer of the highly anticipated RPG *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* and co-founder of Warhorse Studios, recently shared his thoughts on AI. In a post on Wednesday, Vávra explained that although he isn’t a fan of AI-created content, he believes AI is a permanent part of the future and is optimistic about its potential to streamline game development – even if it carries significant risks, like potentially endangering humanity. You can find his full statement below.
The current panic surrounding AI reminds me of the Luddites who destroyed machinery in the 1800s. Just like them, when we shared something many others are doing, we received a huge amount of negative backlash. It’s gotten to the point where people are even falsely accusing us of using AI in our upcoming game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It’s really frustrating.
According to Vávra, Larian Studios faced significant backlash for doing something many others are already doing. He personally isn’t a fan of AI-generated art, but acknowledges that AI is now a permanent part of the landscape, and we need to accept that, even if it’s unsettling.
As a researcher in game development, I’ve been hearing a lot about the challenges of modern production timelines. I completely agree with the sentiment that AI could be a game-changer by taking over the more repetitive and tedious aspects of game creation. This would free up developers to concentrate on the core creative work – the things that truly make a game special.
What bothers me most about game development is how long and expensive it’s become – we’re talking seven years, 300 people, and millions of dollars. It’s even frustrating when actors like Tom McKay have to spend hundreds of hours recording simple lines. If AI could help us create amazing games quickly, with smaller teams like we used to have, I’d be completely on board.
I think even basic interactions, like ordering food or asking for directions, can add personality and quality to a game, but that’s another topic. Vávra is enthusiastic about AI potentially letting players ask any character anything in a role-playing game. He believes this poses the biggest challenge to game programmers, but could also dramatically increase game development by making it cheaper and easier to create games, though he didn’t address the environmental costs of using AI.
The rapid development of AI could either lead to humanity’s downfall, or it could empower anyone to bring their biggest ideas to life at a much lower cost. Just as Steam helped independent game developers thrive, AI could revolutionize the AAA gaming industry. Of course, there’s also the risk that AI could become dangerous, but regardless of what happens, its progress is unstoppable.
“I used AI to translate this text from my native language,” he added. “Let the sh*tstorm begin!”
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2025-12-18 01:40