Plus: TikTok is finally getting U.S. buyers; LA Rams star apologizes for antisemitic gesture.
Larian Studios, the developer behind Baldur’s Gate 3, found itself in hot water after comments about generative AI sparked backlash from fans and creators.
The controversy started after CEO Swen Vincke spoke in an interview about how the studio has experimented with AI tools during development of its next Divinity game. His remarks were interpreted by some fans as Larian embracing AI in ways that could affect creative jobs or end up in the final game.
The criticism was swift. Players called out the studio online, accusing it of undermining human creativity and betraying the values that helped make Baldur’s Gate 3 so popular.
In response, Vincke issued clarifications through social posts and a statement shared with IGN.
“We are neither releasing a game with any AI components nor are we looking at trimming down teams to replace them with AI,” Vincke said. He added that Larian still employs large teams of writers and artists and continues to hire, stressing that AI is being explored only as a behind-the-scenes productivity tool, not a creative replacement.
After skepticism over his response grew, Vincke then took a more defensive approach on X.
He wrote, “Holy f*** guys we’re not ‘pushing hard’ for or replacing concept artists with AI. We have a team of 72 artists of which 23 are concept artists and we are hiring more. The art they create is original and I’m very proud of what they do. I was asked explicitly about concept art and our use of Gen AI. I answered that we use it to explore things. I didn’t say we use it to develop concept art. The artists do that. And they are indeed world class artists.”
Why it matters: Although Vincke tried to calm the situation, the way the message landed created more problems than it solved.
The initial comments about AI were vague, especially the suggestion that Larian was leaning into the technology. Many people assumed this meant AI could replace human work, and that assumption fueled the backlash before any clarification was shared.
The response also struggled because of tone and timing. The follow-up came through social posts that included profanity and frustration. While that style may feel authentic to some fans, it can also come across as defensive or careless when the goal is to reassure a broad audience and lower tensions.
Finally, there’s a gap between what Larian says is happening and how people perceive it. For a studio known for valuing human creativity, even limited behind-the-scenes AI use can feel to some like a step in the wrong direction.
The idea that AI touches any part of the creative process is still a dealbreaker for some. That makes rebuilding trust harder, even after multiple explanations.
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Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at courtneyb@ragan.com.
The post The Scoop: Larian CEO takes defensive approach in response to backlash over AI-use appeared first on PR Daily.
