Discussion regarding generative AI continues to shape the gaming landscape, and Burhan Zamri, an associate producer at Larian Studios—best known for Divinity and Baldur’s Gate 3—has voiced strong concerns about employing this technology for voice-over work. In a candid Twitter post, he elaborated on the importance of assigning smaller roles to human actors rather than algorithms. “We lose the chance to support performers like Jennifer English if we let gen AI replace human acting,” he asserted, sharing a clip of English voicing a humble treasure chest in Divinity: Original Sin 2. “Every VA starts small and progressively levels up to take on bigger challenges.”
The clip features a charming exchange where the protagonist must decipher a password to unlock a treasure trove. It’s a minor interaction that injects a burst of character into the scene, and in a sprawling game like Original Sin 2, it’s these little moments that elevate your adventure.
Zamri emphasizes that allowing AI to take over what he refers to as “the ‘unimportant lines’ (BS, by the way)” denies aspiring voice actors the chance to shine. “When we let AI do those lines, people with potential never get to take the stage,” he pointed out. His argument resonates deeply: even seemingly insignificant roles serve as vital stepping stones in game development, providing newcomers essential experience in larger frameworks without the burdens of more challenging responsibilities.
Jennifer English has made quite a name for herself, lending her voice to characters like Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3, Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Latenna in Elden Ring. Yet, at the start of her career, she contributed her talents to Divinity: Original Sin 2, a game that players are revisiting now as excitement builds for a new Divinity title from Larian. She began with a simple riddle for players, and Zamri’s message serves as a reminder that others deserve that same opportunity.
“It isn’t about trying to shock,” he notes, explaining that Divinity isn’t afraid to tackle tough subjects because Larian believes “people are capable of appreciating a three-dimensional world.”