Historical Authenticity Drives Diverse Cast in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Warhorse Studios Addresses Backlash Against Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Increased Diversity

Warhorse Studios is pushing back against criticism leveled at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) for its increased diversity. In a recent interview with PC Gamer (February 3, 2025), PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling expressed frustration with the ongoing negative response. He stated, "Several years ago, we were branded differently. Now we are branded that way. It seems like someone is always trying to brand us somehow, and we are just trying to make a cool videogame." This follows criticism from some fans and critics who have labeled the game "woke" due to its inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements.

Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed Stolz-Zwilling's sentiments, asserting that the development team is not at fault. "We think the extreme voices are just never happy," he commented.

KCD2's Enhanced Diversity: A Reflection of Historical Kuttenberg

The game's setting in Kuttenberg, Bohemia's historical financial center, accounts for its increased diversity compared to the first game. Bittner explained, "There's more ethnicities in Kuttenberg because Kuttenberg is the royal mint." The city's status as a major economic hub attracted people from various parts of the world, resulting in a more diverse population than other locations in the series.

Bittner highlighted the inclusion of various cultural and ethnic elements, including Italian characters, German-speaking individuals, and a Jewish quarter. He emphasized, "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 Warhorse Studios' approach to KCD2 was driven by community feedback, not directives from their publisher, Plaion or Embracer. He stated, "Everything makes sense. Everything we put there was double and triple checked."

Pre-Orders Remain Strong Despite Controversy

Addressing online rumors of widespread refunds, KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra took to Twitter (X) to clarify that return rates are consistent with expectations. He attributed recent lower Steam chart rankings to concurrent sales of discounted games, citing Monster Hunter: Wilds as another example of impacted pre-order sales.

Vávra also refuted rumors of a Saudi Arabian ban due to unskippable LGBT+ content, stating, "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.