The post <i>Baldur’s Gate 3</i> Maker Says Next RPG Could Have Gen AI Assets As Long As They’re Created With ‘Data We Own’ appeared first on Kotaku.

Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian has changed its stance on generative AI following backlash faced at the end of last year.

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The Duffer brothers, creators of Stranger Things, have said the final battle of the TV series was partially inspired by Baldur's Gate 3. Matt Duffer was apparently playing the game while devising the showdown.

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43.8 million player votes later, the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards have been announced, with Hollow Knight: Silksong securing top prize, Game of the Year.

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Arc Raiders was Steam's biggest-selling game over the holiday period.

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Former Rockstar technical director, Obbe Vermeij, has commended Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios for walking away from the hugely successful Dungeons & Dragons series, calling it a "bold move".

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As announced, Larian Studios is hosting an AMA, following a massive controversy over generative AI in its upcoming game, Divinity. The studio's devs, including chief executive Swen Vincke, answered all sorts of questions, including those related to this controversial technology.

In the AMA, held on Jan. 9 on the r/games subreddit, a user asked the studio about its use of generative AI. "What is your opinion on the role of (generative) AI in the game development process, and for your studio in particular," they asked, additionally inquiring if the AI is being used in some departments and not in others.

Vincke first said that "there is not going to be any generative AI art in Divinity," saying that a lot of confusion had been caused in the past over how the tech is used, which led the studio to completely "refrain from using generative AI tools during concept art development." This last caused the greatest amount of controversy in December, with players strongly opposed to AI in art in any capacity.

"That way there can be no discussion about the origin of the art," Vincke added.

However, Larian Studios will not give up on generative AI entirely, as Vincke believes it can "help" with speed, allowing for way more iterations and testing that further leads to better and, apparently, more refined gameplay. "We're trying things out across departments," he said.

"Our hope is that it can aid us to refine ideas faster, leading to a more focused development cycle, less waste, and ultimately, a higher-quality game," Vincke added.

Vincke concluded that creative assets could still be generated by AI, but only by AI trained on data created by Larian itself and fed into its seemingly self-hosted model.

"If we use a GenAI model to create in-game assets, then it’ll be trained on data we own," he said, which does confirm AI will be used in art, but only to iterate on what Larian had already created itself, rather than what Call of Duty recently did with Ghibli-filter AI all over the place.

In the same thread, Divinity's writing director, Adam Smith, also noted that no AI is being used in writing whatsoever. While the studio did apparently try to make the technology work for dialogues and other text, it failed to provide satisfactory results, with even the most random human writing ending up being better, so that department seems to be completely AI-free.

The post Larian Studios will ‘refrain from using Gen AI’ in concept art but won’t give up on the tech entirely appeared first on Destructoid.

When Larian Studios announced Divinity at The Game Awards 2025, it likely did not think what would follow would be swarms of backlash targeted at the studio and its chief executive officer, Swen Vincke. Not because it had announced a new Divinity game, but because Vincke had made it clear that Larian had been experimenting with using GenAI tools in its development process. Those comments came with considerable backlash, to which Vincke responded fairly bluntly before trying a more measured statement, but that did not stop players and other game developers in the industry who are entirely against the use […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/larian-studios-will-refrain-from-using-genai-tools-to-develop-concept-art-will-use-it-elsewhere/

As announced, Larian Studios is hosting an AMA, following a massive controversy over generative AI in its upcoming game, Divinity. The studio's devs, including chief executive Swen Vincke, answered all sorts of questions, including those related to this controversial technology.

In the AMA, held on Jan. 9 on the r/games subreddit, a user asked the studio about its use of generative AI. "What is your opinion on the role of (generative) AI in the game development process, and for your studio in particular," they asked, additionally inquiring if the AI is being used in some departments and not in others.

Vincke first said that "there is not going to be any generative AI art in Divinity," saying that a lot of confusion had been caused in the past over how the tech is used, which led the studio to completely "refrain from using generative AI tools during concept art development." This last caused the greatest amount of controversy in December, with players strongly opposed to AI in art in any capacity.

"That way there can be no discussion about the origin of the art," Vincke added.

However, Larian Studios will not give up on generative AI entirely, as Vincke believes it can "help" with speed, allowing for way more iterations and testing that further leads to better and, apparently, more refined gameplay. "We're trying things out across departments," he said.

"Our hope is that it can aid us to refine ideas faster, leading to a more focused development cycle, less waste, and ultimately, a higher-quality game," Vincke added.

Vincke concluded that creative assets could still be generated by AI, but only by AI trained on data created by Larian itself and fed into its seemingly self-hosted model.

"If we use a GenAI model to create in-game assets, then it’ll be trained on data we own," he said, which does confirm AI will be used in art, but only to iterate on what Larian had already created itself, rather than what Call of Duty recently did with Ghibli-filter AI all over the place.

In the same thread, Divinity's writing director, Adam Smith, also noted that no AI is being used in writing whatsoever. While the studio did apparently try to make the technology work for dialogues and other text, it failed to provide satisfactory results, with even the most random human writing ending up being better, so that department seems to be completely AI-free.

The post Larian Studios will ‘refrain from using Gen AI’ in concept art but won’t give up on the tech entirely appeared first on Destructoid.

We all have our favorite Baldur's Gate 3 companion. It normally follows a similar pattern: Shadowheart and Astarion lead the pack, with Karlach also lurking near the top. Minthara has etched herself into history as yet another one of gaming's 'gothic baddies,' Gale is the cutesy UwU romantic, and we'll never forget that Halsin trailer. The one person we do often forget about, however, is Theo Solomon's Wyll, the infinitely good Blade of Frontiers. But I'm not innocent here, either: as much as I wanted to find a spot for Wyll in my party, between Astarion's deft hands (minds out of the gutter), Shadowheart's healing, and my consistent lack of tankiness, I never quite found a spot for the troubled yet heroic Warlock.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Larian is "sorry" that Baldur's Gate 3's most underrated companion didn't get a "fulfilling arc," with romance on its improvement list

Larian Studios has emphasized that the upcoming Divinity will not use any art created by generative-AI tools, and that it will be refraining from using them in the concept art stage "to ensure there is no room for doubt." The next RPG from the creators of the world-beating Baldur's Gate 3 made its gruesome first splash at The Game Awards, but comments from game director Swen Vincke that the developer had been exploring the use of gen-AI led to intense community blowback. Naturally, the topic came up frequently throughout a new Divinity AMA, and the team seems eager to put the controversy to bed, although it notes that it believes such tools can be useful in the development process.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Larian says "there is not going to be any gen-AI art in Divinity," and it's even booted it out of the concept art stage after backlash

In a recent Reddit thread, when asked if Baldur’s Gate III would launch for Nintendo Switch 2, Larian CEO Swen Vincke responded, saying, “We would have loved to, but it wasn’t our decision to make.” No further details were provided. Insider NateTheHate expanded on Vincke’s comment via Twitter, stating, “This is the unfortunate truth. While Larian would love to bring Baldur’s Gate 3 to the Switch 2… their relationship with Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast is not healthy.” The reasons behind the strained relationship between the two companies remain publicly unknown. Baldur’s Gate III is available now for PC and Mac via Steam and GOG, as well as for Xbox Series and PlayStation 5.

This is the unfortunate truth.

While Larian would love to bring Baldur's Gate 3 to the Switch 2… their relationship with Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast is not healthy.

Late last year, I heard BG3 for SW2 was not happening; but needed more sources to verify. pic.twitter.com/MM5iDqjfrG

— NateTheHate2 (@NateTheHate2) January 9, 2026

Baldur’s Gate III details via the developer:

Gather your party, and return to the Forgotten Realms in a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power.

Mysterious abilities are awakening inside you, drawn from a Mind Flayer parasite planted in your brain. Resist, and turn darkness against itself. Or embrace corruption, and become ultimate evil.

From the creators of Divinity: Original Sin II comes a next-generation RPG, set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons.

Gather Your Party

Choose from a wide selection of Dungeons & Dragons races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone, and select your companions carefully, or as a party of up to four in multiplayer.

An Expansive Original Story

Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. That power may help you to survive, but there will be a price to pay, and more than any ability, the bonds of trust that you build within your party could be your greatest strength. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms together.

Next-Generation RPG

Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate III gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet.

No Adventure Will Be the Same

The Forgotten Realms are a vast, detailed and diverse world, and there are secrets to be discovered all around you—verticality is a vital part of exploration. Sneak, dip, shove, climb, and jump as you journey from the depths of the Underdark to the glittering rooftops of the Upper City. How you survive, and the mark you leave on the world, is up to you.

Online Multiplayer for Up to Four Players – Allows you to combine your forces in combat, and split your party to follow your own quests and agendas. Concoct the perfect plan together… or introduce an element of chaos when your friends least expect it.
Origin Characters – Offer a hand-crafted experience, each with their own unique traits, agenda, and outlook on the world. Their stories intersect with the entire narrative, and your choices will determine whether those stories end in redemption, salvation, domination, or many other outcomes.

Evolved Turn-Based Combat – Based on the Dungeons & Dragons 5e ruleset. Team-based initiative, advantage & disadvantage, and roll modifiers join combat cameras, expanded environmental interactions, and a new fluidity in combat that rewards strategy and foresight.
Define the Future of the Forgotten Realms – Through your choices, and the roll of the dice. No matter who you play, or what you roll, the world and its inhabitants will react to your story.

Player-Initiated Turn-Based Mode – Allows you to pause the world around you at any time even outside of combat. Whether you see an opportunity for a tactical advantage before combat begins, want to pull off a heist with pin-point precision, or need to escape a fiendish trap. Split your party, prepare ambushes, sneak in the darkness—create your own luck!

The post Baldur’s Gate III Will Not Be Coming To Nintendo Switch 2 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Following scrutiny over revealing that the studio uses generative AI as a reference tool for concept art, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke revealed in a recent Reddit AMA that the studio will not be using AI for its upcoming game Divinity.

“So first off – there is not going to be any GenAI art in Divinity,” Vincke said. “I know there’s been a lot of discussion about us using AI tools as part of concept art exploration. We already said this doesn’t mean the actual concept art is generated by AI, but we understand it created confusion. “So, to ensure there is no room for doubt, we’ve decided to refrain from using genAI tools during concept art development. That way, there can be no discussion about the origin of the art.”

However, Vincke also stated that Larian will continue to explore ways to improve development efficiency. He explained that the studio still intends to use AI tools in other areas to help speed up iteration and experimentation. “The more iterations we can do, the better, in general, the gameplay is,” he continued. “We think GenAI can help with this, and so we’re trying things out across departments. Our hope is that it can aid us to refine ideas faster, leading to a more focused development cycle, less waste, and ultimately, a higher-quality game.” During The Game Awards, Larian Studios announced Divinity, a new game in the series set in the world of Rivellon. The studio claims that it is its “most ambitious title yet.”

Stay tuned at Gaming Instincts via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for more gaming news.

The post Larian Studios Says It Wont Be Using AI tools For Divinity’s Development appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

While the specter of GenAI in Divinity has been mitigated thanks to Larian’s recent Reddit AMA, there’s bad news for Nintendo Switch 2 players. Despite rumors in the past about a potential release, Baldur’s Gate 3 will not be coming to the platform.

According to Larian CEO Swen Vincke, “We would have loved to, but it wasn’t our decision to make.” No further explanation as to why, sadly.

However, insider NateTheHate shed further light on this on Twitter. “This is the unfortunate truth. While Larian would love to bring Baldur’s Gate 3 to the Switch 2… their relationship with Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast is not healthy.” While he heard that a port wasn’t happening “late last year,” he needed more sources to verify the same (and you can’t get a much more reliable source than the studio’s CEO).

Exactly why the relationship between the two companies isn’t healthy remains unknown, especially since Baldur’s Gate 3 ended up a huge success for Hasbro. It earned $90 million for the latter just a few months after leaving early access and eventually selling over 20 million units. Perhaps it has to do with Larian initially working on another Dungeons and Dragons project, but ultimately abandoning it because the team’s heart wasn’t in it.

As for Divinity, it doesn’t have a release date, but it could opt for the early access route like the studio’s previous titles. At this point, the role-playing game is confirmed to be Larian’s biggest game ever, with turn-based combat and co-op support. For those who never played the previous games, Vincke previously confirmed that you can still enjoy the story, though long-time fans will obviously gain more from it.

With Baldur's Gate 3 and its gang of rowdy adventuring mates in the rear view mirror, Larian are hoping to improve a couple of aspects of how they handle companions going forwards - a process that'll likely kick off in Divinity. In particular, the development of deeper relationships between party members and a more subtle build to the moment when the player's relationship veers into deeply horny territory are on their list of learnings.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity developer Larian Studios held its Reddit AMA (ask me anything) today, after backlash from the studio reportedly using generative AI in the development of its new game. During the lengthy AMA the studio seemingly drew a line in the sand, committing to not using generative AI as part of the concept art process, as well as any of the writing processes for the game.

Larian CEO and co-founder Swen Vincke noted that no current concept art had been created using AI, but that he saw how his comments had been misconstrued. The controversy first started when Vincke did an interview with Bloomberg, where he talked about the studio’s experimentation with AI — seemingly implying it was part of the concept art process.

In the Reddit AMA, Vincke said that it was removing generative AI from the entire concept art process to ensure that players knew all art is original.

“There is not going to be any generative AI art in Divinity,” Vincke writes in the AMA.

“So, to ensure there is no room for doubt, we’ve decided to refrain from using genAI tools during concept art development. That way there can be no discussion about the origin of the art.”

Later in the AMA, Larian writing director Adam Smith says the studio doesn’t “have any text generation touching our dialogues, journal entries, or other writing in Divinity.” Smith does say the team experimented with genAI, but the results were “3/10 at best” and paled even in comparison to his worst human drafts.

However, all this doesn’t mean that Larian has written off genAI entirely.

“Having said that, we continuously try to improve the speed with which we can try things out. The more iterations we can do, the better in general the gameplay is,” Vincke says, “We think GenAI can help with this and so we’re trying things out across departments. Our hope is that it can aid us to refine ideas faster, leading to a more focused development cycle, less waste, and ultimately, a higher quality game.”

“The important bit to note is that we will not generate ‘creative assets’ that end up in a game without being 100% sure about the origins of the training data and the consent of those who created the data. If we use a GenAI model to create in-game assets, then it’ll be trained on data we own.”

The AMA is ongoing, so check the full thread for more details.

Divinity is currently in development, and does not have a release date. The studio also recently announced that Baldur’s Gate 3 has sold over 20 million copies to date.

A senior developer who worked on Larian's much loved and critically acclaimed Baldur's Gate 3 has moved studios, and is now working with Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk studio CD Projekt Red.

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More people have downloaded mods for Baldur's Gate 3 than Larian ever expected. "Way more than we ever expected," studio founder and Baldur's Gate 3 director Swen Vincke shared on X. The total downloaded-mods number now stands at more than 350m, the studio revealed, and more than 10,000 mods have been uploaded for other people to play.

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Last week saw Valve reveal three pieces of hardware. The Steam Machine, a console-like mini PC you plug into your TV. A newly updated Steam Controller, which combines the original's trackpad-style thumbpads with the double thumbsticks of a regular gamepad. And also the Steam Frame, a new virtual reality headset that streams games from your PC and opens up your whole game library to be played in the privacy of your own goggles.

While I have a default thrill setting that engages whenever Valve announces new hardware, it's been interesting to see the variety of responses to the hardware reveals. I was surprised, in particular, by the muted response to the Steam Machine in our comments.

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