Industry Analyst
In an era where major publishers are rushing to automate development with Generative AI, one studio is drawing a line in the sand. Larian Studios, the acclaimed developers behind the Game of the Year winner Baldur’s Gate 3, has publicly rejected the use of AI to replace human creativity.
The topic is currently trending globally, sparking a massive debate about the soul of video games. While investors push for cost-cutting AI tools, Larian’s leadership believes that the “magic” of RPGs comes from human imperfection and intuition.
Swen Vincke’s Stance on AI
Recent comments from Larian executives highlight a philosophy that prioritizes writer agency over algorithmic efficiency. The studio argues that NPC interactions, emotional storylines, and complex quest branches—the very things that made Baldur’s Gate 3 a masterpiece—cannot be replicated by a Large Language Model (LLM).
“We want to make sure that the things we put in our games are crafted by human beings who have intent, who have emotion, and who understand what they are writing.”
This approach stands in stark contrast to other industry giants who are actively experimenting with AI-generated voice acting and quest generation to speed up production.
Why This Matters for Australian Gamers
For Aussie gamers, who have long supported independent and “hand-crafted” experiences, Larian’s statement is a breath of fresh air. It mirrors the philosophy of our own local heroes, Team Cherry (Adelaide), who hand-draw every single frame of animation.
It raises a critical question for the industry in 2025: Do we want infinite content generated by machines, or curated experiences crafted by people?
Internal Link Opportunity: Speaking of hand-crafted masterpieces, Australian fans are still eagerly awaiting Team Cherry’s next project. (Check out our latest analysis on the Silksong 2025 Release Window and Development Updates here)
While waiting for more updates from Larian, many Australian gamers are currently jumping into the Fortnite Winterfest 2025 event to grab free rewards
The Future of “Soul” in Gaming
While Generative AI has its place in coding and optimization, Larian’s stance proves that for narrative-heavy games, the human touch is a premium feature.
As we look toward the next generation of RPGs, the divide between “AI-Assisted” games and “Human-Crafted” games will likely become a major selling point. For now, players can rest assured that Larian’s next project will remain 100% human-made.
🤖 FAQ Section: Larian Studios & Generative AI
Q: Does Larian Studios use Generative AI in their games? A: No. Larian Studios has publicly stated they do not use Generative AI to replace creative work. CEO Swen Vincke emphasized that human agency and “intent” are crucial for their storytelling, rejecting the trend of using AI for writing or art generation.
Q: Was Baldur’s Gate 3 written by AI? A: No. The massive script and complex branching narratives of Baldur’s Gate 3 were entirely written by human writers. Larian attributes the game’s emotional depth and critical success to this “hand-crafted” approach.
Q: Why is Larian Studios against using AI for NPCs? A: Larian believes that AI-generated content lacks “soul” and emotional intelligence. They argue that for a Role-Playing Game (RPG) to be truly immersive, the dialogue and character reactions must be crafted by humans who understand the context, not by algorithms predicting text.
Q: Will Larian’s next game feature AI-generated content? A: It is highly unlikely. While other major publishers are adopting AI tools in 2025 to cut costs, Larian has committed to maintaining a human-centric development team to ensure the quality and artistic integrity of their future projects.