Kingdom Come: the studio behind the game uses AI and triggers a real storm of reactions

The release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 comes with an unprecedented controversy in the video game industry. The development studio, Warhorse Studios, has triggered a media storm by announcing the replacement of its main English translator with artificial intelligence. This decision, motivated by a stated desire to reduce costs and speed up development, has caused a shockwave within the player community and among industry professionals. Caught between technological innovation and the risk of losing the soul of the game, the debate is heating up.

Kingdom Come, famous for its immersive and historical approach to RPGs, has been known since its inception for the carefully crafted quality of its dialogues and the richness of its quests. The meticulous human translation work contributed to this success, offering an authentic and nuanced rendering, a faithful reflection of medieval subtleties. However, the massive integration of AI-based tools disrupts this balance. The abrupt dismissal of translator Max Hejtmánek, the craftsman of the English version for over three years, perfectly illustrates the tensions between technological progress and respect for artisanal creativity.

A radical decision by the game studio provoking strong reactions

When Warhorse Studios announces that artificial intelligence will now handle the translations for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the community can only react with surprise and concern. This choice, far from being trivial, raises fundamental questions about the future of video game development and the role of humans in this industry.

On March 28, 2026, Max Hejtmánek shared on Reddit his dismissal, a decision part of a reorganization aimed at “making the company more efficient” and “saving money in a highly competitive market.” Yet, this quest for efficiency through artificial intelligence risks dehumanizing an essential aspect: the translation and editing of dialogues, true vectors of narrative immersion.

Angry fans have gathered online to defend a more traditional approach, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and cultural detail that only human intervention can guarantee. This media storm highlights the divide between technological innovation and artistic expectations, making the Kingdom Come case a symbol of the upheavals awaiting the sector.

The dismissal of Max Hejtmánek: a shock for the community and the industry

At the heart of the controversy, Max Hejtmánek held the position of translator and proofreader for Kingdom Come since 2022. Tasked with overseeing the English version of the historical RPG, he was committed to making each dialogue believable, each quest meeting the demands of a rigorously reconstructed medieval universe. His meticulous work greatly contributed to the critical and commercial success of the first installment.

The blow was hard when Warhorse Studios announced that his position would become obsolete in favor of artificial intelligence. This abrupt announcement, communicated without sufficient preparation, caused a shock among the human contributors community as well as among players attached to the game’s narrative dimension.

Max himself expressed his feeling of unfair dismissal, specifying that he was firmly opposed to the widespread use of AI in such a delicate project. His testimony reveals growing tensions in the industry, where technical innovations can quickly erase jobs that were once essential. Beyond a simple restructuring, it is a profound questioning of traditional development methods that is underway.

• Employment duration: over 3 years at Warhorse Studios
• Roles: translation, proofreading, and cultural adaptation
• Areas of involvement: dialogues, item names, quests
• Opposition to the AI implemented by the studio
• Impact on artistic quality and historical fidelity

The impact of artificial intelligence on the narrative quality of historical video games

Kingdom Come owes its success to its historical realism and immersive narration that plunges players into a precise and documented medieval era. Every line of dialogue, every interaction is designed to faithfully reflect the mentalities and language of an ancient period. This authenticity relies on a writing and translation work that is all the more sensitive.

The use of artificial intelligence as a substitute for human translation raises several issues.

1. Loss of nuance and emotion: AI, however advanced, still does not master irony, subtle humor, and the variety of language registers, which are essential in an RPG like Kingdom Come.
2. Standardization of language: The use of standardized algorithms tends to create a universal style that makes cultural and historical particularities disappear.
3. Risks of contextual errors: Automated translation may fail to grasp the specific subtleties of medieval dialogues or lesser-known historical references.

These factors raise fears of an impoverishment of the immersive experience, inseparable from the poetics of the game. The loss of the human element in the creative chain threatens to distort what has long distinguished Warhorse Studios’ historical RPG.

Aspect	Human Translation	AI Translation
Nuance and emotions	Rich, adapted to cultural and linguistic context	Limited, often too literal or mechanized
Contextual accuracy	High, thanks to historical and human knowledge	Variable, sometimes erroneous on specific references
Artistic sensitivity	Very present, attentive to dramatic details	Poorly developed, often standardized
Production timelines	Longer, dependent on manual work	Very fast, full automation
Cost	Relatively high due to human labor	Reduced, with short-term savings

Warhorse Studios facing the media storm: challenges and strategies

Despite the wave of criticism, Warhorse Studios remains surprisingly silent about the controversy tearing apart its community. This lack of communication only fuels the anger and distrust of loyal players.

The studio, benefiting from its past success, bets on profitability and technological innovation to sustain Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The adoption of artificial intelligence fits into a desire to rationalize development, reduce costs, and shorten deadlines, facing the pressure of an increasingly competitive market.

However, this strategy carries serious risks:

• A possible deterioration of the brand image, if the perceived quality drops.
• Loss of trust from long-time players, attached to the game’s authenticity.
• A potential boycott or sales decline, direct consequences of online discontent.

Beyond the Kingdom Come case, this issue reflects a broader dilemma faced by many studios: how to adopt technological innovation without compromising the artistic values that form their identity.

Artificial intelligence in game development: a challenge for the RPG industry

The use of artificial intelligence is becoming widespread in video game development, especially in genres demanding a large volume of texts, such as RPGs. Warhorse Studios is not the first to rely on these new tools, but its choice opens a crucial debate on the limits and prospects of AI in this sector.

The advantages of AI are undeniable:

• Automation of repetitive tasks: mass translation, grammar checking, rapid adaptation.
• Cost reduction: AI allows savings on human labor.
• Time gain: increased speed of delivering texts and content.

At the same time, risks crystallize around the loss of authenticity and narrative depth, two fundamental elements for historical video games. Moreover, the massive arrival of AI on the market raises ethical and social challenges, notably regarding employment and recognition of human creative work.

It is therefore a delicate balance to find between technological innovation and the preservation of artisanal expertise, a sine qua non condition to guarantee the future of historical RPGs.

Fan and influencer reactions, a barometer of public expectations

The player community quickly mobilizes following the announcement of Max Hejtmánek’s replacement, expressing dismay and anger on various online platforms. Forums and social networks become the stage of a passionate debate between AI supporters and human translation defenders.

For many, Kingdom Come is not just a simple video game: it is a work where emotion and authenticity play a crucial role. The use of AI is perceived as a direct threat to this immersive experience.

Video game influencers help amplify the reactions. Some denounce an “incredibly stupid” choice and regret the loss of a dedicated translator, while others emphasize the need to evolve with modern techniques, albeit in a more thoughtful way.

This divide reveals a clear expectation: innovations must respect artistic sensitivity and narrative quality without sacrificing the human element. Fan pressure could push Warhorse Studios to adapt its strategy or reintegrate human skills into the process.

The economic and cultural consequences of the massive adoption of AI

The use of artificial intelligence in video game development generates substantial economic repercussions. While studios experience immediate savings on production costs, notably those related to salaries, the long-term effects on employment and creativity remain concerning.

The sector faces a double constraint:

• On one hand, the need to remain competitive in an ever faster and more demanding industry.
• On the other hand, the risk of content standardization and erosion of cultural diversity in games.

For translation, this phenomenon is particularly visible. Automated tools cannot fully replace the richness of human interpretations, especially in works with a strong historical and cultural load such as Kingdom Come.

Furthermore, this accelerated transition leads to a loss of skilled jobs, weakening professions that, until recently, were at the heart of creative development. The chase for productivity gains must not make us forget that the video game industry is above all based on passion, expertise, and the uniqueness of human talent.

Perspectives for a hybrid future between humanity and artificial intelligence in video games

Despite the huge controversy sparked by the Kingdom Come case, many analysts believe that artificial intelligence can have a constructive role in game development, provided it is integrated with discernment.

A hybrid model could emerge, combining:

• Human intervention: for critical writing, scripting, and cultural translation elements.
• Use of AI: for less sensitive production tasks, such as rapid generation of test versions or automatic correction.

This collaboration between man and machine would offer a better compromise, allowing narrative authenticity to be maintained while benefiting from productivity gains made possible by automation. Kingdom Come now stands at a crossroads, illustrating this major technological transition in a sector where human talent remains irreplaceable.

Why did Warhorse Studios choose to replace a human translator with AI?

The studio seeks to reduce costs and speed up production by automating translation tasks with artificial intelligence tools, according to their official statements.

What are the main criticisms regarding the use of AI in the translation of Kingdom Come?

Critics point to a loss of nuance, language standardization, a reduction in narrative quality, and a risk of dehumanizing historical dialogues.

What impact does this change have on the player community?

The community is strongly opposed to this choice, fearing a degradation of immersion and game authenticity, which could harm the overall experience.

Can artificial intelligence fully replace human work in video game development?

AI can help automate certain tasks but does not yet replace artistic sensitivity, cultural nuances, and human creativity, especially in historical RPGs.

What are the future prospects for integrating AI in game development?

A balance between automation and human intervention seems to be the most viable solution to preserve artistic quality while benefiting from technological advantages.