Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke has announced that the team behind Baldur’s Gate 3 will hold a comprehensive Q&A session after the holidays to address growing concerns regarding the studio’s use of generative AI. The decision follows a wave of criticism from the community after it was revealed that AI-generated concept art was used during the early development stages of the recently announced Divinity project. For a studio that has long enjoyed an almost untouchable reputation for transparency and pro-consumer practices, the sudden friction marks a rare moment of tension between the Belgian developer and its dedicated fanbase.
The controversy began shortly after the 2025 Game Awards, where Larian officially unveiled its return to the Divinity universe. While the announcement initially sparked excitement, the discovery of AI-assisted assets in early promotional and development materials shifted the conversation toward the ethical implications of the technology. Critics and industry observers have raised alarms about the potential for generative AI to displace human artists and diminish the creative soul of high-profile RPGs. Vincke, however, has pushed back against the narrative that Larian is moving toward automation, suggesting that the studio’s actual stance has been “lost in translation” during the initial fallout.
Vincke’s defense of the technology centers on the idea of internal efficiency and technological evolution. In statements leading up to the promised AMA, he argued that it would be “irresponsible” for a leading studio not to evaluate emerging tools. He maintained that Larian uses these systems to explore rough ideas and handle “jobs nobody wants to do,” rather than as a replacement for the studio’s massive creative team. Despite these assurances, the skepticism remains high, particularly as the gaming industry continues to grapple with widespread layoffs and the fear that AI integration will lead to further staff reductions.
The upcoming Q&A is intended to be a deep dive into the studio’s workflow, featuring representatives from various departments to explain how Larian balances technical innovation with traditional craftsmanship. With Baldur’s Gate 3 having sold over 20 million copies and set a new gold standard for the genre, the stakes for their next project are immense. Whether this session can successfully quell the “AI controversy” will likely depend on how specifically the studio can prove that their reliance on human talent remains the priority in an increasingly automated landscape.
