Key Points
- Global RAM prices have surged due to AI companies stockpiling hardware, impacting consumers and developers.
- Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke says soaring RAM and SSD costs are disrupting financial planning for the studio’s next Divinity title.
- The shortage is forcing Larian to begin optimization work earlier than planned during the early‑access phase.
- The studio also faces criticism for using generative AI as a reference tool during development.
- Larian recently addressed backlash over a graphic trailer for its upcoming game, assuring fans they are not aiming for shock value.
Hardware Shortages Hit Game Development as RAM Prices Skyrocket
A global spike in RAM prices—driven largely by AI companies buying massive quantities of hardware—has begun to affect both consumers and game developers. With reports suggesting that a single stick of RAM now costs more than an entire PlayStation 5, industry-wide concerns are mounting. Console prices, including the Xbox Series X, may soon rise as a result.
Among the studios feeling the impact is Larian Studios, currently developing the next entry in the Divinity franchise.
Larian CEO Says Rising Costs Are Disrupting Development Plans
In a recent interview, Larian CEO Swen Vincke described the unprecedented challenges the studio is facing due to soaring RAM and SSD prices.
“We’ve never had it like this,” Vincke said, noting that the sudden cost increases have thrown off long‑term planning. “It kind of ruins all of your projections because, normally, you know the curves, and you can protect the hardware.”
Because of the shortage, Larian now expects to begin optimization work much earlier than usual—during the early‑access phase—rather than later in development when such refinements are typically made.
“It means that we already need to do a lot of optimization work in early access that we didn’t necessarily want to do at that time,” Vincke explained. “It’s challenging, but it’s video games.”
AI Use Sparks Debate Amid Hardware Strain
Adding to the pressure, Larian has faced criticism after acknowledging its use of generative AI during early ideation for its new title. Ironically, the rapid expansion of AI is one of the factors driving the RAM shortage.
Vincke clarified that AI is used only as a reference tool, not as a replacement for human artists.
“We’re not pushing hard for or replacing concept artists with AI,” he said. “We use AI tools to explore references… as a rough outline for composition, which we later replace with original concept art.”
He emphasized that AI‑generated sketches cannot compare to the work of trained artists.
Backlash Over Graphic Trailer Prompts Studio Response
Larian is also navigating controversy surrounding the reveal trailer for its upcoming game, which some viewers found excessively graphic. The studio quickly addressed the criticism, stating they were not “trying to shock” audiences and reaffirming their commitment to delivering a game that meets—and exceeds—the high expectations set by Baldur’s Gate 3.
What Happens Next?
As hardware prices continue to climb and AI tools become more embedded in creative workflows, Larian Studios—and the broader gaming industry—must adapt to a rapidly shifting landscape. For now, the studio remains focused on optimizing its next major release while balancing fan expectations, technological challenges, and the realities of modern game development.
