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| A screengrab from Divinity's cinematic announcement trailer |
The gaming world is still buzzing from the haunting, cryptic trailer for Divinity at The Game Awards. Yet, for Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, the celebratory mood has quickly soured. The studio now finds itself at the center of a heated industry debate after its CEO, Swen Vincke, publicly defended the company’s use of generative AI tools, drawing immediate and sharp criticism from former staff members.
In a recent, wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, Vincke outlined how Larian has been experimenting with AI for ancillary tasks: brainstorming ideas, curating internal PowerPoint presentations, writing placeholder text, and developing early-stage concept art. He acknowledged some internal pushback but asserted, “I think at this point everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we’re using it.” He was adamant, however, that no AI-generated content would ship in the final game, with all art and writing to be handled by human hands.
The reaction online was swift and critical. Fans and developers expressed deep concern over the normalization of AI in creative pipelines, a particularly sensitive topic following a year of industry-wide layoffs often linked to automation cost-cutting.
The most personal blows came from former Larian employees. Anne Methot, a former QA tester with four years at the studio, stated she was unsurprised and accused Vincke of “lying about people being okay with it.”
Holy fuck guys we’re not "pushing hard" for or replacing concept artists with AI.
— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) December 16, 2025
We have a team of 72 artists of which 23 are concept artists and we are hiring more. The art they create is original and I’m very proud of what they do.
I was asked explicitly about concept art…
Selena Tobin, a former artist on Baldur’s Gate 3, issued a more poignant plea: “I loved working at Larian Studios until AI. Reconsider and change your direction, like, yesterday. Show your employees some respect. They are world-class and do not need AI assistance to come up with amazing ideas.”
Vincke quickly took to X to defend the studio's position, posting in clear frustration: “Holy f**k guys, we’re not ‘pushing hard’ for or replacing concept artists for AI. We have a team of 72 artists, of which 23 are concept artists, and we are hiring more. The art they create is original, and I’m very proud of what they do.”
A Studio Seeking to Clarify Amidst Industry-Wide Tensions
In an attempt to quell the controversy, Vincke held an internal AMA after the holidays, featuring representatives from various departments to discuss Divinity’s development openly. “Our processes are always evolving, and where they are not efficient or fail to align with who we are, we will make changes,” he stated, emphasizing a commitment to his team.
The intensity of the reaction highlights Larian’s unique position. As the darling of the RPG world and creator of 2023’s Game of the Year, any statement from the studio is magnified. In the context of other studios, like the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, confirming AI use, Larian’s comments became a flashpoint for a broader debate.
For many players and developers, AI-generated content is viewed as inherently “bland” or “soulless,” a shortcut that undermines the human creativity that defines beloved worlds like Faerûn. Critics warn of an innovation stagnation, where AI—capable only of remixing existing data—limits the visionary leaps that propel the medium forward.
As the debate rages, Larian’s path forward is being closely watched. The studio’s legacy is built on painstaking, human-crafted detail. How it navigates the integration of these controversial new tools may well define not only the success of Divinity but also its standing with the devoted community that carried its last title to unprecedented heights.
Experience the acclaimed, human-crafted world that started the conversation.
Find the Baldur's Gate 3 Deluxe Edition on Amazon here