Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Faces Backlash, Developers Respond
Warhorse Studios, developers of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2), are addressing the recent online criticism surrounding the game's increased diversity. In a February 3, 2025 interview with PC Gamer, PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling expressed frustration with the ongoing negative feedback. He stated that the team is consistently misrepresented and simply aims to create an engaging game. The criticism centers around the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements deemed "woke" by some players.
Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed Stolz-Zwilling's sentiments, suggesting that extreme viewpoints often overshadow constructive criticism. He emphasized that the development team isn't responsible for the controversy.
Historical Accuracy and Diversity in KCD2
The game's setting in Kuttenberg, Bohemia's financial center, naturally lends itself to a more diverse cast than its predecessor. Bittner explained that Kuttenberg's role as the royal mint attracted individuals from various ethnicities and backgrounds, including Italians, German speakers, and a significant Jewish population. He highlighted the importance of representing not only these diverse characters but also their unique perspectives, often overlooked in media claiming to be diverse.
Stolz-Zwilling clarified that Warhorse Studios' approach to KCD2 was shaped by community feedback, not directives from their publisher, Plaion or Embracer. He asserted that all inclusions are historically researched and meticulously verified.
Pre-Orders and Sales Remain Unaffected
Responding to rumors of refund requests and a potential ban in Saudi Arabia due to LGBTQ+ content, writer Daniel Vávra stated on Twitter (X) that KCD2's return rate remains standard. He attributed the game's lower Steam chart ranking to concurrent sales of discounted popular titles, citing Monster Hunter: Wilds as a comparable example. Vávra also refuted claims of a Saudi Arabian ban, emphasizing that KCD2 is a role-playing game where player choices and their consequences reflect the moral and social norms of the game's historical setting.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
