Rising RAM & SSD Prices Force Larian to Do Optimization for Divinity Earlier Than Expected
"We've never had it like this."
Larian
If you haven't updated your PC's RAM or SSD in a while, you might be surprised to learn that their prices have skyrocketed in recent months, making some RAM options more expensive than top GPUs. All because companies need power for their AI stations, and manufacturers wish to focus on them.
Other than the obvious issues for simple PC users, this also causes issues for game developers: Larian Studios' CEO Swen Vincke told TheGamer that the prices force the studio to deal with optimization of its upcoming Divinity game earlier in production than expected.
Vincke has never seen RAM and SSD costs jump so high, "and f**k, man. It's like, literally, we've never had it like this."
"It kind of ruins all of your projections that you had about it because normally, you know the curves, and you can protect the hardware. It's gonna be an interesting one. It means that most likely, we already need to do a lot of optimization work in early access that we didn't necessarily want to do at that point in time. So it's challenging, but it's video games."
The news comes soon after Vincke had to deal with backlash after saying that Larian uses generative AI to explore ideas, develop PowerPoint presentations, make concept art, and write placeholder text.
He, however, promised that the game won't have any genAI content when it's released, and the tech is used purely for work no one wants to do: "Holy f*ck 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."
Aside from this, the studio has also been criticized for its gruesome Divinity trailer, which "isn't about trying to shock" players but about "trying to match their powers of comprehension."
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