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

Warhorse Studios' developers are expressing frustration over the recent online backlash surrounding Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2). In an interview with PC Gamer on February 3, 2025, KCD2’s PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling shared his thoughts on the criticism the game has received for its increased diversity.

Stolz-Zwilling 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 video game." This response comes after fans and critics have pointed out the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements considered "woke."

Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the team is not at fault for the controversy. "We think the extreme voices are just never happy," he remarked.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Diversity

Set in Kuttenberg, KCD2 features a more diverse setting compared to its predecessor. Bittner explained, "There's more ethnicities in Kuttenberg because Kuttenberg is the royal mint." As the financial hub and the second most important city in Bohemia, Kuttenberg attracts people from various parts of the world, resulting in a richer, more diverse environment than other settings in the series.

Bittner also highlighted the inclusion of different cultures and ethnicities in the game, such as Italians, German-speaking individuals, and a Jewish quarter. He stressed the importance of not only including these groups but also representing their worldviews, which he believes are often overlooked in media claiming to be diverse.

Stolz-Zwilling clarified that neither their publisher Plaion nor Embracer mandated any specific agendas for the game. Instead, community feedback influenced their approach to KCD2. "Everything makes sense. Everything we put there was double and triple checked," he assured.

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

Warhorse Studios has addressed rumors that players are requesting refunds for pre-ordering KCD2 due to the backlash. KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra took to Twitter (X) to clarify that the game's sales-return ratio remains unchanged despite the controversy. He noted that KCD2's position on Steam charts had been affected by discounts on nine popular games, which also impacted pre-order sales for Monster Hunter: Wilds.

In January 2025, Vávra faced criticism due to KCD2's queer representation, which led to rumors about the game being banned in Saudi Arabia because of unskippable LGBT+ scenes. Vávra debunked these rumors, emphasizing the nature of the game as a role-playing experience. "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," he stated.

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