Witchfire’s CEO on Larian Utilizing AI: They Are ‘Undoubtedly Not Evil’

Final week, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke confronted some fan backlash for talking about his studio’s use of AI within the making of Divinity. It is clear that everybody has an opinion on AI use—together with The Astronauts CEO Adrian Chmielarz.

You would possibly know his studio from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, and his pedigree additionally consists of Bulletstorm and Painkiller (no, not the latest one) from his AAA days. His studio’s upcoming recreation, Witchfire, feels a bit extra Bulletstorm than it does Ethan. You may test it out for your self proper now on PC whereas it is in early entry. Its newest replace, The Reckoning, provides melee weapons you’ll be able to smash the superpowered undead with.

To be clear up entrance, The Astronauts has a no-AI coverage, that means none of Witchfire’s closing belongings, audio, textual content, or something might be AI generated. Nonetheless, Chmielarz himself has a extra nuanced tackle AI—and he stated Larian simply “obtained a bit unfortunate.”

The Astronauts’ CEO on Larian Utilizing AI

So as to add a bit extra context, Vincke spoke with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier about Divinity, which was revealed at The Recreation Awards, and the way his artists use generative AI to discover concepts however to not create closing idea artwork. To date, AI hasn’t made processes extra environment friendly.

Vincke additional clarified on X (previously Twitter) about his stance. “We’re not ‘pushing onerous’ for or changing idea artists with AI,” he wrote. “I answered that we use it to discover issues. I didn’t say we use it to develop idea artwork. The artists try this.”

Vincke adopted up, asserting that not exploring new applied sciences can be “irresponsible.” If it yields unhealthy outcomes or misaligns with their values, they “will make modifications.”

Chmielarz would not condemn this exploratory use of AI, however he acknowledges that some would dislike it, particularly how AI might be “spoiling” the challenge from the beginning. Even when the ultimate product is human made, it is ranging from a kind of “rotten seed.”

After all, this does not account for different main arguments in opposition to AI, together with its environmental influence and plagiarism accusations, amongst different issues.

“[Larian] obtained somewhat bit unfortunate. I feel that Larian is unquestionably not evil,” Chmielarz stated. “I am seeing from what they wrote [on Dec 18] that they are… doing deep soul looking of what precisely is that going to imply for Larian going ahead, and so we’ll see what occurs.”

In an electronic mail follow-up, I requested if people absolutely made a recreation however had some inspiration from AI-generated artwork, might it’s thought of freed from AI. His reply was sure, notably as a result of the hypothetical people are behind the creativity and era, not AI.

“At present, I don’t assume it’s an actual downside anyway, as recreation idea artwork generated by AI is far worse than individuals assume,” he added. “However assuming that at some point it turns into glorious, then it’s as much as a studio to resolve how a lot AI they need to invite into their improvement course of. With Witchfire, that door is firmly closed. We began the sport earlier than AI was even a factor, and we’ll end it with out a single aspect being created by AI.”

How the Astronauts Are NOT Utilizing AI in Witchfire

Chmielarz has spent many of the previous decade engaged on Witchfire, a first-person shooter that mashes collectively components from soulslikes, roguelikes, extraction shooters, and heist video games.

When it was first revealed in 2017, AI was however a twinkle in some Silicon Valley tech bros’ eyes. When it launched in early entry in 2023, ChatGPT debuted the 12 months earlier than. Now in 2025, AI is pushed to the highest of each Google search.

“We stated to ourselves, let’s be quite simple about this, and we’re simply disallowing AI in Witchfire.” —Adrian Chmielarz, CEO of The Astronauts

For Witchfire, the aim is for each closing asset to be created by people. Chmielarz has purposefully denied artwork made by AI—even when it is only a small contact—and made a number of artists take longer to create one thing by hand. This prices the studio extra time (and cash), all for the sake of making certain that human contact.

“I am actually emotional about video video games, like I am actually invested. That is my life,” he stated. “And so I need Witchfire to be this kind of music that one human being sings to a different particular person. I need to preserve that connection.”

He likened it to how he’ll exit of his method for a hand-crafted wine glass over a mass-produced one. Even when it has imperfections and nicks, it holds a narrative, connecting him to the creator’s ardour. He values this artisanal philosophy greater than he fears potential backlash for publishing a recreation with AI belongings (“which, by the way in which, can be a catastrophe,” he added).

The Nuances of How AI Can Be Used

Throughout the vast majority of the early-access interval, Chmielarz has been the only real author for Witchfire. As a non-native English speaker, he has used AI to proofread a few of his writing, which might tweak issues like “Acquire a Witchfire” to “Acquire Witchfire.”

To be clear although, not one of the concepts had been generated by AI; it was simply used to make the phrases circulate nicely to an English-speaking viewers. For the ultimate launch nonetheless, all of the textual content might be rewritten by Nick Adderley, who’s at present additionally engaged on Judas.

For Chmielarz, he attracts a definite line between AI to generate and AI to proofread. Finally, it is about whether or not the machine or the particular person is doing the artistic work.

“For those who ask AI to create one thing for you, like idea artwork for an enemy, after which you have got a human simply repaint it, that’s not a pure 100% AI-free recreation,” he stated. “To be clear, I’m not right here to guage different studios for his or her decisions. Each crew has to resolve what works for them and their artistic course of.”

In our interview, it was clear to me this distinction between producing and proofreading is one thing he wrestled with. He values the human connection between creator and participant, which AI-generated belongings dilute. On the similar time, utilizing AI to proofread his non-native English throughout early entry is one thing that arguably improves that connection.

“It is a tremendous tough state of affairs with AI as a result of… if I used AI to appropriate my English for Witchfire, is it okay? I feel so, however perhaps I ought to have used a human, proper, to shine all that textual content. Perhaps I ought to have given a job to any individual as an alternative of utilizing [AI], so I do not know, man,” he stated.

And certainly, hiring a human is what he did in preparation for the ultimate launch of Witchfire. Adderley is “murdering” all his textual content, he joked, and the human-made writing might be applied earlier than the sport absolutely releases.

AI’s Unsure Future within the Business

It is clear to me that Chmielarz sees totally different levels of “severity,” for lack of higher phrase, in the case of judging using AI. He sees the competing opinions on AI in the neighborhood, too.

“At present there’s lots of people—actually, this isn’t a minority—lots of people are actually clear about not wanting any AI of their video games, and it’s controversial, however I type of prefer it as a result of it tells me they care, proper?  They need to have contact with different people by means of artwork,” Chmielarz stated.

“Now, I need to add that there are individuals that do not thoughts… that say, ‘If it is going to make me an important recreation quicker, I am all for it,’ proper? However there’s a actually massive group, I do not know if it is half of it, I don’t know, however a very massive group that claims no.”

He additionally sees a kind of arms race within the business, tying again to what Larian head Vincke stated about it being “irresponsible” to not discover new applied sciences. What do you do if a smaller crew makes a “higher” recreation in half the time due to AI? What if it will get to the purpose the place AI turns into an business normal? Abruptly, you are not aggressive, and in a panorama like video video games, that is a detriment to your backside line and your staff’ livelihoods.

Whereas he did not vilify or idolize AI, Chmielarz is bound of 1 factor: he is grateful that Witchfire ships quickly as an alternative of in 5 years.

“I do not assume the instruments in the intervening time are that nice. Such as you actually cannot make a recreation utilizing simply AI,” Chmielarz stated. “However in 5 years’ time, I do not know. Each single day, I examine one thing completely loopy.

“So luckily, in a method, we’re a small fry. So we’re taking a look at all people else, and let’s examine what occurs.”

The Significance of Detailed Disclosure

For the present second, he is a fan of disclosure of AI use throughout the board, like what Steam presents. Although he does need disclosure to be very particular so gamers can resolve for themselves the place their line is.

“For instance, if it is similar to one asset or no matter, then perhaps that is effective. But when half of your recreation is utilizing AI belongings, then individuals would possibly need to know that,” Chmielarz stated. “However once more, we’ll see, as a result of right this moment, it means quite a bit to see that message. Perhaps in 5 years’ time, it is going to be meaningless, and we’ll take away it as a result of all people might be utilizing AI and so no person cares anymore since you simply cannot escape it.”

There’s some cynicism in his outlook for the long run, however he additionally believes that gamers have the facility to influence the place the business goes with AI. Although in fact, this depends on builders being clear.

“Finally, the choice will principally be made by the gamers. In the event that they refuse to purchase video games which are clearly executed utilizing AI, the message might be clear, and other people might be not utilizing AI of their video games, [it’s] so simple as that,” he stated.

In his private life, Chmielarz makes use of ChatGPT and Gemini over Google searches, a lot to his teenage daughter’s dismay. It understands when he talks, making it quicker and handy. Nonetheless, he additionally is aware of its present limitations and at all times asks it to offer sources—although even these hyperlinks will be hallucinations, too.

In his skilled life although, AI carries much more weight due to the influence it has already had in such a short while. It is shortly grow to be an immediate turn-off for a lot of players and a catalyst for some builders, whatever the ethical and environmental prices.

“AI is so many issues, proper?  It is humorous that, you recognize, 5 years in the past, in the event you requested any gamer, ‘Would you like higher AI in your video games?’ They’d say sure,” he stated with fun.

At present, the reply to that query is not so simple.

“I do not know what the long run holds or how strongly AI might be current within the artistic course of years from now. Nobody does. All I do know is that right this moment, we wish Witchfire to be a product of natural creativity and keenness,” he stated. “We would relatively spend extra money as a studio and provides our crew the time they should create one thing free from AI than compromise that imaginative and prescient.”