Larian Studios has achieved resounding success with Baldur’s Gate 3, which has led many players to rediscover their previous titles, especially Divinity: Original Sin 2. In this context, the studio director, Swen Vincke, has shared reflections on past decisions and the future direction of video game development at the company.
An Immortal Squirrel
One of the most notable topics was the inclusion of Sir Lora, a quirky squirrel that travels on a dead cat, in the DLC of Divinity: Original Sin 2. Vincke has stated that he considers this to be one of his worst decisions. Although many players, such as journalist Leya Jankowski, have enjoyed the character, he tried to remove it in the Nintendo Switch 2 version due to pressure from the publisher, although he was informed by the quality control team that it was already too late to do so.
In an interview with MeinMMO, Vincke explained that, although his team uses generative artificial intelligence as a support tool in the conceptualization phases, the main content is still created by humans. This technology is used to automate routine tasks, allowing designers to focus more on the player experience. He assured that every decision, dialogue, and interaction within their games is meticulously designed by the creative team, true to the studio’s philosophy of offering RPGs with maximum freedom of choice.
Finally, Vincke emphasized that the vision of the study is not compromised by the use of AI, as its goal is to create an environment where players feel they truly control the game’s narrative. With a clear focus on human creativity, Larian Studios continues to cement its reputation as pioneers in the video game industry.
