According to IGN, following a major backlash from fans and fellow developers, Baldur’s Gate 3 creator Larian Studios is now promising to review its processes and hold a fan Q&A. CEO Swen Vincke announced the “Ask Me Anything” session for after the holiday break, inviting questions about their next game, Divinity, and their development process. The controversy ignited last week after Vincke admitted in a Bloomberg interview that Larian uses generative AI internally for tasks like brainstorming, PowerPoints, pitching concept art, and writing placeholder text. He noted the tech hasn’t yet led to gains in efficiency, but critics argued these uses either didn’t need AI or risked undermining human artistry. In response, Vincke stated Larian is “neither releasing a game with any AI components” nor looking to replace teams with AI, but said the studio would “make changes” where processes “fail to align with who we are.”
The AI Backlash Breakdown
Here’s the thing: the backlash wasn’t just about Larian using AI. It was about how they were using it, and the seeming casualness of the admission. Using AI for “placeholder text” or “PowerPoint presentations”? To a lot of creative folks, that sounds like solving a problem that doesn’t exist with a tool that introduces a bunch of new ones. And the “pitching concept art” bit really set people off. That’s a core, deeply human part of the early creative vision. The fear, whether Vincke intended it or not, is that this is the thin end of the wedge. You start with “brainstorming,” and where does it end? It’s a trust issue. After delivering a masterpiece like Baldur’s Gate 3, which fans felt was a triumph of human craft, hearing the studio dabble in generative AI felt like a betrayal of that ethos.
Larian’s Damage Control Playbook
So, Larian’s response is a classic two-pronged approach. First, you get the firm denial on the big fears: no AI in the shipped game, no job replacement. That’s meant to calm the immediate panic. But the second part is more interesting—the promise of an AMA and to evolve their processes. This is smart. It turns a defensive situation into a (potential) transparency win. They’re saying, “Okay, you’re worried? Let’s talk it out.” It acknowledges the community’s voice matters. But let’s be skeptical for a second. The statement says it’s “irresponsible” not to evaluate new tech, which is a standard corporate line. The real test will be what “changes” they actually make. Will they walk back from AI use in sensitive areas like concept art? Or will they just try to explain it better? The AMA will be a pressure cooker.
The Bigger Picture for Game Dev
This whole episode isn’t really just about Larian. It’s a microcosm of the massive, awkward tension gripping the entire creative industry. Every studio is under pressure to “evaluate” AI. Shareholders want efficiency; tech bros promise revolution. But the core audience for a studio like Larian—the RPG superfans—values human artistry above all. They can smell procedural generation a mile away. So studios are stuck trying to placate both sides, talking about “empowering” their teams while quietly testing tools that much of their team and fanbase deeply distrust. Larian’s stumble shows there’s no easy, casual way to adopt this tech when your brand is built on craft. You can’t just slip it in through the PowerPoint backdoor. The community is watching, and they have very, very strong opinions.
