Developers from Warhorse Studios are expressing frustration over the backlash that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) is facing. Dive into their perspective on the controversy and its impact on the game.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Diversity is a Result of Being "As Accurate As Possible"
Warhorse Studios' developers are tired of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 being criticized online and simply want to focus on creating an engaging video game. In a February 3, 2025, interview with PC Gamer, KCD2’s PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling shared his thoughts on the game's backlash due to increased diversity.
Stolz-Zwilling stated, "We've been labeled in various ways over the years. It feels like there's always someone trying to pin a label on us, but our goal is just to make a cool video game." This response comes in the wake of criticism regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements considered "woke" by some fans and critics.
Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the team is not the source of the controversy. "The extreme voices are never satisfied," he remarked.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Diversity
Set in Kuttenberg, KCD2 reflects a more diverse setting than its predecessor. Bittner explained, "Kuttenberg, being the royal mint, attracts a variety of ethnicities." As the financial hub of Bohemia, Kuttenberg draws people from around the world, enhancing the city's diversity compared to other locations in the series.
Bittner highlighted various cultural and ethnic elements included in the game, such as characters from Italy, German speakers, and a Jewish quarter. He emphasized the importance of not only including these groups but also representing their worldviews, which he feels is often missing in media claiming to be diverse.
Stolz-Zwilling clarified that neither their publisher Plaion nor Embracer mandated any specific agendas for the game. Instead, community feedback shaped their approach to KCD2. "Everything we include is meticulously researched and verified," he noted.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Pre-Orders Unaffected By Recent Backlash
Warhorse Studios addressed rumors about players seeking refunds for pre-ordering the game amid the backlash. KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra took to Twitter (X) to clarify that the game's sales-to-return ratio remains unchanged despite the controversy. He noted that KCD2's lower position on Steam charts a few weeks ago was due to discounts on nine popular games, which also affected pre-order sales for Monster Hunter: Wilds.
In January 2025, Vávra faced attacks over KCD2's queer representation, fueling rumors about a potential ban in Saudi Arabia due to unskippable LGBT+ scenes. He debunked these rumors, emphasizing that "KCD2 is a role-playing game where player choices lead to consequences aligned with the morals and social norms of the time."
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. For more details, visit our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 page.
