Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Translator Says Warhorse Let Him Go for AI Tools
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
A translator for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 claims Warhorse Studios laid him off to replace human localization with AI tools, highlighting growing industry tensions around automation and creative labor.
Localization and translation are complex, highly human creative processes, but studios are increasingly tempted by the siren song of automation. Max Hejtmánek, a Czech to English translator and editor who worked on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, recently shared on Reddit that Warhorse Studios laid him off in favor of implementing AI for all future translations. According to Hejtmánek, management cited efficiency and cost-cutting during a meeting, informing him that his role was becoming obsolete. As originally reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, the post was verified by subreddit moderators, bringing a very human cost to light as the industry experiments with generative technology.
This shift does not come entirely out of nowhere, especially given previous public comments from studio co-founder Daniel Vávra expressing enthusiasm for AI localization and instant dubbing. While Warhorse has not yet issued a formal public statement regarding their internal pipeline changes, the news hits hard for players who value authentic cultural nuance and localized writing. Translation is far more than a word-for-word swap, and replacing dedicated staff with algorithms risks flattening the rich storytelling that fans expect from massive RPGs.
For our community, this situation highlights a growing tension between studio profit margins and the creative talent that actually builds the games we love. As digital economies and production tools evolve, players are increasingly paying attention to how developers treat their workforce. If major studios pivot hard toward automated solutions, we will likely see more pushback from creators and consumers alike. Transparency matters, and watching how upcoming projects handle their localization credits will tell us a lot about where the industry's priorities truly lie.
Tags: Industry News, AI, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Warhorse Studios, Localization
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun