Warhorse Studios Replaces Humans with AI for Kingdom Come 2

Warhorse Studios and AI: A Controversial Bet for Kingdom Come 2

The historical RPG industry is in turmoil after Warhorse Studios announced a major shift in the development of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The Czech studio has decided to rely on artificial intelligence at the expense of human labor, a decision that has sparked a strong backlash among genre purists.

The announcement was made on Reddit on March 28, 2026, when Max Hejtmánek, the head of the English version of the game, revealed his dismissal. Warhorse Studios chose to part ways with him to entrust the translation to an AI, aiming to cut costs and speed up the process. However, this strategy raises doubts about the quality of the final product. Indeed, handing such a highly anticipated project over to a machine does not go unnoticed, and the risk to the studio's image becomes very real.

Dismissal of Max Hejtmánek: A Shockwave

Max Hejtmánek, who had been working as a translator and proofreader since 2022, was abruptly let go. His role involved managing dialogues, quests, and item names with great precision. Warhorse Studios justifies this decision by the need to reduce production costs.

The studio opted for automated translation tools, which promise faster execution than humans, but at the cost of nuance. Hejtmánek, shocked by this decision, expressed his feeling of betrayal, a sentiment echoed by the community that fears for the soul of the game. He had always opposed the use of AI, and his sudden dismissal has created a very real risk to the studio's image. The gaming community, attached to the authenticity of the dialogues, is expressing its anger and is even considering a boycott of the game.

Efficiency Over Human Creativity

By choosing automation, Warhorse Studios joins other companies that prioritize time savings over creative sensitivity. Processing algorithms have become a norm to cut costs, but at the expense of the added value that an experienced translator brings.

Hejtmánek emphasizes that this trend extends beyond the video game industry, affecting many writing professions. He did not expect his work to become obsolete so quickly, still believing in its importance. Unfortunately, many sectors are undergoing this forced transformation of writing jobs, where machines now replace talent indiscriminately.

Threat to Dialogue Authenticity

The English version of the first installment of Kingdom Come was recognized for its authenticity and historical richness. Fans fear that automation will not be able to reproduce the irony and roughness of medieval dialogues, essential elements for immersion in the game.

On Reddit, players are expressing their concerns about a possible homogenization of dialogues, which could harm the gaming experience. An AI struggles to replicate the irony or the roughness of a knight from Kingdom Come. The authenticity of interactions is, however, the foundation of total immersion in this very specific title. The community thus fears a standardized and completely soulless narrative.

An Uncertain Future for the Industry

Warhorse Studios has not yet officially responded to the controversy. This issue highlights the fragility of creative professions in the face of the rise of smart technologies. The sector is exploring content generation systems to optimize its margins, but public reaction could slow this trend.

If the studio persists in this direction, it risks losing the loyalty of its fan base. The transition to AI-driven translation solutions poses a major ethical challenge, and the industry must choose between artistic excellence and economies of scale. The current silence from Warhorse Studios fuels the sharpest criticisms from observers, and the dismissal of Max Hejtmánek could lead to a boycott from the most loyal customers.