Larian Confirms: New Divinity Game Will Have Zero AI-Generated Content Despite Studio Trials

Larian Studios is experimenting with generative AI behind the scenes, but when it comes to the newly announced Divinity game, CEO Swen Vincke is clear: nothing AI-generated ends up in the final product. Even as the studio tinkers with new tech, all in-game writing and acting will be purely human-driven.

Vincke opened up about Larian’s approach in a recent Bloomberg interview, revealing that the studio uses generative AI to brainstorm ideas, craft internal presentations, develop concept art, and write placeholder text. “Everything is human actors; we’re writing everything ourselves,” he stressed. The message couldn’t be simpler: while AI is a tool in the toolbox, the game that players will actually experience is made entirely by people.

Why Larian Is Leaning Into AI, But Not For Players

The push for AI came after Baldur’s Gate 3, a sprawling RPG that was as challenging to make as it was successful. With the next Divinity instalment, Larian wants to speed up development and avoid repeating the marathon production schedule. AI is part of that equation, but it hasn’t shifted the game’s efficiency as much as you’d think, according to Vincke.

Instead, its value lies in enhancing the creative process internally. Think prototyping, expanding on team ideas, and fleshing out rough outlines, not generating the content that reaches your screen. There’s been some pushback from within Larian on how AI is used, but Vincke says, “at this point, everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we’re using it.”

He sees AI as a way to “do more stuff,” not as a substitute for writers, artists, or developers. “We certainly don’t see it as a replacement for developers,” he emphasised at GDC last year. “But we do see it as something that allows us to do more stuff.” The tech is there for experiments and support, but it’s still “far from being usable” as a full substitute for human talent.

How Larian Plans To Deliver Divinity Faster, and Bigger

The next mainline Divinity game marks Larian operating at full capacity. Vincke calls it “us unleashed”—the raw, undiluted vision of the team, now officially confirmed as a turn-based RPG. To speed things up, Larian’s not just using AI for R&D. This time, they’re running quest design and story development in parallel rather than linearly, a major shift aimed at saving production time and avoiding bottlenecks that slowed previous games.

Studio growth is part of their new strategy. “I think a lot of founders have the same problem,” Vincke said. “I have to be large, otherwise I can’t make my video game. With growth suddenly comes a whole bunch of responsibilities that you didn’t necessarily think you were ever gonna have, but you have them, and then you make the best of them.” Expanding the team brings headaches nobody saw coming, but Vincke’s focus is on shipping the biggest Divinity yet, in less time than ever before.

That ambition applies to Larian’s past work, too. Arriving hot on the heels of the Divinity announcement, Divinity: Original Sin 2 got a shiny current-gen upgrade this week, now available on Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The studio’s commitment to quality, human quality, runs through both its next-gen and current projects.

Larian’s Stance on AI in Games

The message from Larian is consistent: AI can help behind the curtain, but what goes on stage is all human. For players, that means every quest, line of dialogue, and performance in the new Divinity game will be crafted the traditional way. AI may someday be a bigger force in game dev, but at Larian, it’s not ready for prime time, at least not yet.