Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Director Defends Baldur’s Gate 3 Dev’s Controversial AI Comments

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Director Daniel Vávra has come to the defense of Larian Studios’ Swen Vincke amid significant backlash against Vincke’s comments on generative AI. AI in game development has been a hot topic throughout the past year as key figures across the industry have voiced differing opinions on the controversial technology, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s director.

The current controversy flared up after Vincke expressed how Larian was starting to use AI in development. The Baldur’s Gate 3 dev mentioned using AI to generate concept art, which quickly drew the ire of people across the internet arguing that this use case replaces or diminishes human art. Users also criticized Vincke for saying “everyone at the company is more or less OK” with generative AI when some Larian devs have spoken out against the technology in the past. At the same time, others said Larian’s approach to AI didn’t bother them, and now the creator of one of 2025’s Game of the Year contenders has joined those voices.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Director Calls Larian Backlash “AI Hysteria”

In a lengthy post on Twitter, Vávra referred to the backlash against Vincke and other devs using AI as “AI hysteria,” likening it to Luddites smashing steam engines in the Industrial Revolution. While the director admitted that he is “no fan” of AI-generated art, he said that resisting an AI-driven future would be like resisting sewing machines in textiles. He also highlighted potential upsides of the technology, saying it could help smaller teams make bigger games in less time. This isn’t the first time Vávra has voiced this opinion, as the KCD2 dev shared hopes that AI will accelerate development earlier in 2025, saying he has more ideas than time.

In addition to saving time, Vávra said he believes generative AI could offer deeper NPC interactions. The dev offered an example where AI allows players to ask any NPC any question and get a unique, in-character response while still relying on human actors for cutscenes and story dialogue. Despite this optimism, he also acknowledged how generative AI could endanger programming jobs and “may mean the demise of humanity.” However, Vávra still claimed that those possibilities are uncertain and that AI could lead to a greater variety of quality games in the future. He’s not alone in seeing potential in AI in development, either, as Bethesda’s Todd Howard called AI a “tool” that could speed up the process.

However, other big names in the industry are less enthusiastic about AI in development. Last of Us co-director Bruce Straley offered a scathing criticism of generative AI recently, saying there can’t be such thing as an “AI artist” because he doesn’t believe prompting is art. Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has likewise rallied against AI, likening its widespread use to mad cow disease. Many fans have also taken a strong stance against it. The backlash against would-be Steam game Postal: Bullet Paradise‘s alleged AI use was so strong that its developer canceled the project one day after revealing it.

While many developers and players may have reservations about AI, it’s already become an undeniable part of modern gaming. One study found that as many as one in five Steam games use generative AI to some extent. With big names like Microsoft and EA investing heavily in the technology, it seems like AI will keep growing in gaming, at least for a time, though how that will pan out remains uncertain.

Released

February 4, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity

Developer(s)

Warhorse Studios