Developers from Warhorse Studios are expressing frustration over the backlash surrounding Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2). Dive into Warhorse Studios’ 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 Just Want to Make a Cool Video Game

The team at Warhorse Studios is tired of the negative attention Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been receiving online. They're focused on creating an engaging video game. In a recent interview with PC Gamer on February 3, 2025, KCD2’s PR Manager, Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, shared his thoughts on the backlash the game has faced due to its increased diversity.

Stolz-Zwilling remarked, "We've been labeled in various ways over the years. It seems like there's always someone trying to categorize us, but our goal remains the same—to create a cool video game." This statement came in response to criticism from fans and reviewers regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements considered "woke."

Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed this sentiment, stating, "The loudest voices are often the least satisfied." He emphasized that the team's intentions are not to provoke but to create an authentic experience.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Diversity

Set in Kuttenberg, KCD2 introduces a more diverse setting than its predecessor. Bittner explained, "Kuttenberg, being the royal mint, naturally attracts a variety of ethnicities." As the second most significant city in Bohemia and a financial hub, Kuttenberg draws people from around the world, making it a melting pot of cultures.

Bittner highlighted various cultural elements in the game, including characters from Italy, German-speaking individuals, and a Jewish quarter. He stressed the importance of not only including these diverse groups but also reflecting their worldviews, which he believes is often missing in media claiming to be diverse.

Stolz-Zwilling clarified that the inclusion of diverse elements was not driven by directives from their publishers, Plaion or Embracer, but rather by community feedback. He emphasized, "Every aspect of the game has been meticulously researched and verified."

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Pre-Orders Unaffected By Recent Backlash

Warhorse Studios has addressed rumors about players seeking refunds for pre-ordering KCD2 amidst the controversy. KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra took to Twitter (X) to clarify that the game's sales-to-return ratio has remained stable despite the backlash. He noted that KCD2's lower ranking on Steam charts was due to discounts on nine other popular games, which also affected pre-order sales for Monster Hunter: Wilds.

In January 2025, Vávra faced attacks over KCD2's queer representation, which led to rumors about the game being banned in Saudi Arabia due to unskippable LGBT+ scenes. Vávra debunked these rumors, stating, "This is a ROLE PLAYING GAME, where players make choices and face consequences based on 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.