Larian Studios, makers of the hit game Baldur’s Gate 3, is in hot water. Their CEO said they use AI – smart computer tools that make pictures and text – for early game ideas.
This upset many fans. CEO Swen Vincke says no AI will be in the final game. Everything will be made by humans.
What Larian Said About AI
In a Bloomberg interview, Vincke explained simply: AI helps “explore ideas, make PowerPoint slides, create concept art, and write temp text.” This is for their next Divinity game. He calls AI “extra help” for boring tasks. It does not replace jobs or save time for firing people.
Larian has 72 artists, including 23 who do concept art. They are hiring more. On X (Twitter), Vincke posted: “We’re not replacing artists with AI. It’s just like using Google or art books for ideas.”
Fans’ Angry Reactions
Fans feel betrayed. Larian was seen as a “good guy” studio after Baldur’s Gate 3 won big awards. Now, “Larian AI” trends on X in the USA.
One fan yelled: “Larian… WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ‘DEVELOP CONCEPT ART’ WITH AI? I TRUSTED YALL!!!!!” Others say “Goodbye Larian” or joke about taking away Baldur’s Gate 3‘s top award and giving it to Alan Wake 2.
Worries include: AI trains on stolen art from real artists. It hurts the planet too. Some fans plan to boycott the new game.
Not Everyone Agrees – Some Defend Larian
Others say the anger is overblown. They point out: Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 use AI too, but get praise. One user: “This seems like stupid drama.” It’s not like big companies like Microsoft firing artists.
Vincke says his team is fine with it.
Why This Matters for Games
This fight shows big issues in gaming. AI can spark new ideas, but many fear it kills artist jobs and creativity. Larian was loved for being different from big corporations. Now, fans watch closely. Vincke promises openness. Will it calm the storm?
