Larian Studios is drawing a clear line against generative AI in its game development pipeline, particularly when it comes to text generation. While the studio remains open to exploring AI tools in other areas—such as motion capture refinement—the use of AI for dialogue, journal entries, or any narrative content has been explicitly ruled out.
This decision stems from an internal experiment where a small team tested AI-generated text tools. The results were deemed unsatisfactory, with even the best outputs grading no higher than a 3 out of 10 in terms of quality. Comparatively, the studio’s own initial drafts, often rough and unpolished, still outperformed these AI-generated versions by a significant margin.
The process of refining dialogue in Larian’s games is meticulous, involving multiple rounds of review and iteration. From the first stub to the final recorded line, each piece of text undergoes rigorous scrutiny to ensure it meets the studio’s high standards. This level of craftsmanship, the developer argues, cannot be replicated by current AI tools, which often produce content that feels artificial or lacks depth.
This stance reflects a broader industry trend where developers are carefully evaluating the role of AI in game development. While some studios see potential in AI for asset generation or procedural content, others, like Larian, prioritize human creativity to maintain narrative authenticity and player immersion.
