Warhorse Studios just made a move that’s got the gaming community talking for all the wrong reasons. The Czech developer behind Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 fired their human translator and replaced them with AI to save money.
Yes, you read that right. A Czech studio just replaced their Czech language specialist with artificial intelligence.
The news broke on Reddit and spread quickly through gaming communities. Players aren’t happy about what this means for the quality of the game’s localization.
“Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Czech Translater Fired From Warhorse And Replaced With AI To ‘Save Finances'” — u/akbarock on r/Steam
The irony here is hard to miss. Kingdom Come Deliverance is famous for its attention to historical detail and authenticity. The first game was praised for its realistic portrayal of medieval Bohemia. Now the studio is cutting corners on the very language of the region they’re trying to represent.
This isn’t just about one translator losing their job. It’s about what happens when studios prioritize profit over quality. Language localization isn’t just about translating words from one language to another. It’s about capturing cultural context, humor, and regional nuances that AI still struggles with.
Human translators understand things that AI doesn’t. They know when a joke doesn’t work in another language. They can spot cultural references that need to be adapted. They understand the subtle differences between formal and informal speech that can make or break a character’s personality.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is supposed to continue the story of Henry, a blacksmith’s son in medieval Bohemia. The game’s Czech roots are part of its identity. Having authentic Czech localization should be a priority, not a cost-cutting target.
Warhorse isn’t the first studio to make this choice. AI is creeping into game development at every level. We’ve seen AI used for voice acting, writing dialogue, and even creating art assets. Each time, studios promise the technology will enhance human creativity, not replace it.
But that’s not what’s happening here. This is a straight replacement. A human worker was fired and an AI system took their place. The motivation wasn’t to make the game better. It was to save money.
The gaming industry has always been tough for workers. Crunch time, layoffs, and unstable employment are common problems. Adding AI replacement to that list makes things even harder for people trying to build careers in gaming.
Players have good reason to be concerned about translation quality too. We’ve all played games with awkward or confusing localization. Bad translation can ruin immersion and make dialogue feel wooden. It can turn emotional scenes into unintentional comedy.
AI translation has improved a lot in recent years. Tools like Google Translate and DeepL can handle basic communication pretty well. But game localization is different. It requires understanding character voice, narrative tone, and cultural context.
A medieval Czech blacksmith should sound different from a modern-day businessman. Those nuances matter for storytelling. They’re what separate good localization from mechanical word-swapping.
The timing of this decision is also questionable. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2024. Fans have been waiting years for the sequel. This is exactly when the studio should be investing in quality, not cutting costs.
Warhorse built their reputation on attention to detail. The first Kingdom Come was criticized for bugs and technical issues, but praised for its historical accuracy and immersive world. Players trusted the studio to deliver that same level of care in the sequel.
Firing the Czech translator undermines that trust. It signals that financial concerns are taking priority over the authenticity that made the series special.
This decision also raises questions about other aspects of development. If Warhorse is cutting costs on localization, what else might they be skimping on? Quality assurance? Bug testing? Voice acting?
The gaming industry needs to have a serious conversation about AI’s role in development. There are places where AI can be helpful without replacing human workers. But this isn’t one of them.
For Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, the damage might already be done. The Czech localization will be handled by AI, and there’s probably no going back. But other studios should take note of the backlash.
Players care about quality. They notice when corners are cut. And they’re not afraid to speak up when studios make decisions that prioritize profits over the people who make games possible.
Warhorse still has time to reconsider this choice. Bringing back a human translator would send a strong message about their commitment to quality. It would also show that they value the cultural authenticity that made Kingdom Come special in the first place.
Until then, fans will have to hope that AI can capture the soul of medieval Bohemia as well as a human translator could. That’s a big ask for any technology.
