"Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Embraces Historical Accuracy in Diversity"

Developers from Warhorse Studios are frustrated with the backlash surrounding Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Dive in to understand Warhorse Studios' perspective on the controversy and its impact on the game.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Diversity Stems from Historical Accuracy

Warhorse Studios’ Developers Just Want to Create an Engaging Video Game

The team at Warhorse Studios is tired of the criticism aimed at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) and simply wants to focus on creating a compelling video game. In a recent interview with PC Gamer on February 3, 2025, KCD2’s PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling shared his frustration regarding the backlash over the game's increased diversity.

Stolz-Zwilling stated, "We've been labeled in various ways over the years. It feels like someone is always trying to categorize us, but our main goal is just to make a cool video game." This comes after some fans and critics expressed concerns over the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements they label as "woke."

Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the team isn't responsible for the controversy. "The extreme voices are never satisfied," he noted.

Exploring Diversity in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Set in Kuttenberg, KCD2 offers a more diverse setting than its predecessor. Bittner explained, "Kuttenberg, being the royal mint, attracts a variety of ethnicities." As the second most significant city in Bohemia and the financial hub, Kuttenberg draws people from around the world, resulting in a much more diverse population compared to other locations in the series.

Bittner highlighted various cultural elements in the game, including people from Italy, German-speaking individuals, a Jewish quarter, and more. He stressed the importance of representing not just these people but also their worldviews, which he believes are often missing in media that claim to be diverse.

Stolz-Zwilling clarified that neither their publisher Plaion nor Embracer forced them to include specific agendas in the game. Instead, community feedback shaped their approach to KCD2. "Everything we've included has been meticulously researched and verified," he affirmed.

Pre-Order Sales Remain Strong Despite Backlash

Warhorse Studios has addressed rumors about players seeking refunds for pre-orders of KCD2 amid the controversy. KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra took to Twitter (X) to clarify that the game's sales-return ratio has remained consistent despite the controversy. He noted that KCD2's position on Steam charts was affected by discounts on nine popular games, which also impacted pre-order sales of Monster Hunter: Wilds.

In January 2025, Vávra faced criticism over KCD2's queer representation, which led to unfounded rumors about the game being banned in Saudi Arabia due to unskippable LGBT+ scenes. Vávra dismissed these rumors, emphasizing that "KCD2 is a role-playing game where player choices drive the narrative, reflecting the morals and social norms of the era."

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Visit our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 page for more details about the game.