Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Diversity is Just a Result of Historical Accuracy

Developers at Warhorse Studios are pushing back against the recent criticism surrounding Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Read on to understand their perspective on the controversy and its impact on the game.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Diversity: A Matter of Historical Accuracy

Warhorse Studios is tired of the backlash against Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) and simply wants to create an engaging game. In a February 3, 2025 interview with PC Gamer, KCD2's PR Manager, Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, addressed the controversy surrounding the game's 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 videogame." This follows criticism from fans and critics regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content and other elements deemed "woke."

Senior Game Designer Ondřej Bittner echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the team isn't the source of the problem. "We think the extreme voices are just never happy," he commented.

The Diversity in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

KCD2's setting in Kuttenberg allows for a more diverse representation than its predecessor. Bittner explained, "There's more ethnicities in Kuttenberg because Kuttenberg is the royal mint." As Bohemia's second most important city and financial center, Kuttenberg 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 diverse cultural elements, such as Italian individuals, German-speaking characters, and a Jewish quarter. He stressed, "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 dictated the inclusion of specific agendas. The team's approach to KCD2 was shaped solely by community feedback. "Everything makes sense. Everything we put there was double and triple checked," he added.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Pre-Orders Unaffected by Backlash

Warhorse Studios addressed rumors of players requesting refunds following the controversy. KCD2 Writer Daniel Vávra stated on Twitter (X) that the game's sales-return ratio remains unchanged despite the backlash. He attributed the game's lower position on Steam charts to discounts offered on nine popular games, citing a similar drop in pre-orders for Monster Hunter: Wilds.

In January 2025, Vávra faced criticism for KCD2's queer representation, leading to online speculation about a Saudi Arabian ban due to unskippable LGBTQ+ scenes. He denied these rumors, reiterating, "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 available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Visit our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 page for more details.