Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Developers Face Reddit AMA Grilling Over AI Use After Translator's Firing

Warhorse Studios, the developer behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, faced intense scrutiny during a Reddit AMA as fans repeatedly questioned the team about its use of generative AI. This follows the alleged dismissal of a translator to cut costs. In March, former Warhorse translator Max Hejtmánek revealed on Reddit that his position was made 'obsolete' as the studio shifted to AI to save money and improve efficiency. Hejtmánek described the decision as a 'huge shock,' noting that while discussions about AI for translation had come up before, he never expected it to cost him his job. Unsurprisingly, the firing dominated the AMA, with most questions answered by a boilerplate HR statement citing internal matters. However, creative director Prokop Jirsa confirmed the studio is 'currently in the process of hiring new English translators. Actual humans,' and plans to have at least as many human translators on the next project as on KCD2. Some questions were brutal, like one asking which of the five developers could most easily be replaced by AI, to which they replied, 'Hopefully none of us, and never.' Another fan asked if they could write their questions with AI, while others inquired about using ChatGPT for the game or a Gemini Premium subscription for translation. One translator expressed hurt over the news, prompting a pinned response from Warhorse stating they don't see AI as a substitute for human work and are expanding the translation team. Despite this, some fans were unsatisfied, pointing out that the firing followed backlash over allegedly AI-generated in-game art. Not all questions were about AI; one fan asked about the next project, with designer Ondřej Bittner teasing a 'near future' reveal. The team was also vague about rumors of an open-world Lord of the Rings game, saying only that they're working on a 'huge, immersive RPG.' Additionally, they discussed the difficulty of implementing the Rabbit UI, which indicates stealth status, noting it generated 'a lot of internal controversy' but ultimately improved gameplay. The AI talk dominated the AMA, leading one person to call it a 'train wreck.' Creative director Prokop Jirsa responded, saying the AMA was a hot topic internally but offered a chance to 'clear the air.' He added, 'Gamers care deeply about our industry... sometimes that can create some toxicity. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.' Last week, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II won a 2026 BAFTA Games Award for Best Narrative.