Neil Newbon says "there's no f*cking way AI could make" anything like Baldur's Gate 3: "It's too interesting, subtle, crazy, off the wall, pathos-filled. It's too human"

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3. Baldur's Gate
4. Baldur's Gate 3

Neil Newbon says "there's no f*cking way AI could make" anything like Baldur's Gate 3: "It's too interesting, subtle, crazy, off the wall, pathos-filled. It's too human" News By Jordan Gerblick published 20 January 2026

"F*ck AI"

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Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon, who plays Astarion in the hit 2023 RPG, is once again making it very clear he doesn't want generative AI anywhere near his video games.

Of course, Newbon has never been shy to share his feelings on AI, having previously said it "sucks," "doesn't work very well," and "sounds crap" alongside other more expletive-laden repudiations.

During the finale of his 126-part YouTube video series in which he played through the entire game, Newbon once again ripped into the prospect of generative AI being used in video game development, specifically because when amazing games like Baldur's Gate 3 exist without the help of AI, why would anyone want to use it?

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"It just goes to show to you, folks, fuck AI," Newbon said. "This game could never be made by AI. It's too interesting, subtle, crazy, off the wall, pathos-filled. It's too human. So yeah, there's no fucking way AI could make this."

While the industry has more or less been forced to accept some degree of AI in things like task automation, generating art, writing, or acting is the big sticking point. That's why, despite initially admitting to and defending the use of AI in concept art development for Divinity, Larian has since pulled a 180 and committed to there being no such use of the tech.

Somehow only slightly off topic: Larian says Divinity won't have AI-generated penises: "I can guarantee that all the genitals in the game be manually crafted with love"

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES PS5 PC Gaming Xbox Series X Platforms PlayStation Xbox Jordan GerblickSocial Links Navigation

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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Logout Read more Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon says AI voices "sound crap" and studios should pay actors to re-record those lines    Baldur’s Gate 3 lead slams "insufferable" AI artists whose ideas are mere "LinkedIn Copypasta": "Every intellectual point they make on Twitter was made by a man with a toilet in the 1910s"    Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star Jennifer English says "mistakes are beautiful," so "use your beautiful, creative, human brains" and not AI    Larian is using generative AI in development, but CEO Swen Vincke says Divinity won't launch with AI content    Divinity producer says using AI removes "the chance to support performers" such as Baldur's Gate 3 star Jennifer English    Baldur's Gate 3 director isn't "pushing hard" for AI, and "I don't actually think it accelerates things"    Latest in Baldur's Gate Astarion actor says there won't be another game like Baldur's Gate 3 "either ever, or for a very, very, very long time"    Baldur's Gate 3 sales are huge since Divinity announcement says Larian boss, and OS2 has had "its best month" since 2017    Baldur's Gate 3 lead writer says AI-generated writing is a "3/10 at best" and "doesn't" actually help game development    Larian writer laments Wyll, Baldur's Gate 3's unlucky Warlock, who played a much bigger role in stories that got cut    Baldur's Gate 3 devs had "all the freedom we needed" to make the RPG, aside from tabletop "limitations"    Baldur's Gate 3 wins Steam's Labor of Love award following 2 years of updates and community support    Latest in News Former World of Warcraft producer reunites with another WoW vet on Riot's League of Legends MMO    Neil Newbon says "there's no f*cking way AI could make" anything like Baldur's Gate 3: "It's too human"    The Conjuring Universe sets release date for new horror prequel First Communion    34-year game dev veteran says Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 "ruined" his worldview on AAA development    Arc Raiders lead responds to complaints about late spawns, says late joiners are important and "profit way more"    Luke Cage actor says he has "unfinished business" ahead of his rumored return in Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again season 2    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

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