Highlights
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II director Daniel Vávra dismisses criticism of Larian’s AI use as “AI hysteria.”
- Larian has also confirmed that generative AI is limited to early exploration, with no AI-generated content in the final game, and that the studio never planned to replace concept artists with it.
- The controversy reflects growing tensions around AI in game development, dividing developers, fans, and industry leaders.
Daniel Vávra, the director of Warhorse Studio’s Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, has publicly defended Larian Studios, as the developer of Divinity faces backlash due to its use of generative AI in early development stages. Industry veteran Vávra labeled the criticisms as “AI hysteria” and “insanely crazy,” arguing that accusations against Larian reflect broader unease about new technology adoption in game development rather than any misconduct.
The said controversy erupted after Larian CEO Swen Vincke confirmed that the studio is using generative AI “to explore things,” during a Bloomberg interview on Dec 16. Since then, the Belgium-based studio behind the Divinity Franchise and Baldur's Gate 3 has been drawing ire from some fans and developers regarding the ethical dilemma of AI use.
Initial official responses sought to quell the uproar by clarifying the scope of AI use but fell short. Vincke even stated that no AI-generated content will appear in the final game, and that the studio is not planning to replace “concept artists with AI.” However, the situation continued to escalate on social media and forums, prompting industry figures like Vávra to weigh in.
Vávra’s View on AI and its Inevitability
Vávra framed the backlash against Larian as similar to historic resistance to technological advances, asserting that generative AI is now an irreversible part of creative workflows. “This AI hysteria is the same as when people were smashing steam engines in the 19th century,” he wrote, noting that studios are already using such tools to streamline repetitive tasks.
While Vávra stated he is “no fan of AI-generated art,” he argued that AI can reduce development time and costs, potentially facilitating lesser production time to produce ambitious titles more efficiently. He notes, “it's taken me seven years on average to make one game,” emphasizing the lengthy production cycle behind a prestigious title. He added that he is all in if AI can shorten the timeline.
Vávra’s arguments align with Larian’s message that AI assists rather than replaces human creativity. Vincke has stressed that AI tools are used only for early exploration and ideation, reasoning “it would be irresponsible for us not to evaluate new technologies.”
In a later post, Vincke mentioned that, though the studio already has 23 concept artists, they are expanding their creative staff rather than trimming teams. He clarified that these artists make concept art, and that gen-AI tools are only used for reference, the way people use “Google and art books.”
The AI-use controversy surrounding Larian follows a broader pattern of industry tensions over generative AI use. Recently, a Postal franchise spinoff got cancelled, prompting the studio to close as well. In the past few months, AAA titles such as Arc Raiders faced similar outrage. In such a time, Vávra’s defense has become significant, after other veterans, such as Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney comment on the use of gen-AI tools raised some debates.
Amidst the heated environment, as Larian presses forward with its new Divinity RPG, the studio is planning to reveal more details about the game after the festive season.
