Warhorse Studios Addresses Backlash Against Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Increased Diversity
Warhorse Studios, the developers behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2), are pushing back against recent online criticism regarding the game's enhanced diversity. In a February 3, 2025 interview with PC Gamer, PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling expressed frustration with the ongoing negative commentary. He stated, "Several years ago, we were branded differently. Now we are branded this way. It seems someone's always trying to brand us, and we're just trying to make a cool videogame." This follows criticism from some fans and critics over the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements perceived as "woke."
Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed Stolz-Zwilling's sentiments, asserting that the development team is not the source of the problem. "We think the extreme voices are just never happy," he commented.
The Historical Basis for KCD2's Diversity
The game's setting in Kuttenberg, Bohemia's financial center, naturally lends itself to a more diverse cast than its predecessor. Bittner explained, "There's more ethnicities in Kuttenberg because Kuttenberg is the royal mint." The city's role as a significant economic hub attracted people from various regions, resulting in a more diverse population than other locations in the game's world.
Bittner highlighted the inclusion of diverse cultural elements, such as Italian characters, German-speaking individuals, and a Jewish quarter, emphasizing the importance of representing not just diverse characters but also their unique perspectives. He stated, "I think that it's important to not just include these people, but their vision of the world, which can sometimes feel lacking in games or media that call themselves diverse."
Stolz-Zwilling clarified that neither publisher Plaion nor Embracer Group mandated the inclusion of specific agendas. The team's approach to KCD2 was shaped by community feedback, and he affirmed that all elements were thoroughly vetted. "Everything makes sense. Everything we put there was double and triple checked," he stated.
Pre-Orders Remain Unfazed by Controversy
Responding to rumors of refund requests following the backlash, KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra stated on Twitter (X) that return rates remain consistent. He attributed the game's lower position on Steam charts to concurrent discounts on other popular titles, citing Monster Hunter: Wilds as an example.
Vávra previously addressed accusations of the game being banned in Saudi Arabia due to unskippable LGBT+ scenes, denying these claims and emphasizing the game's role-playing nature. He stated, "It is a ROLE PLAYING GAME, so it is purely up to the player what decisions they make and for all the decisions they make, they are responsible for the consequences that correspond to 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 information, visit our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 page.
