A former Warhorse Studios developer indicated that the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 studio will be using AI for all localization going forward. This comes as more developers face backlash over the implementation of generative AI in their games.
On Saturday, Czech-to-English translator and editor Max Hejtmánek posted on Reddit claiming that he was fired by developer Warhorse Studios and replaced with AI. It came as a shock to the developer, who said he worked on dialogue, quest logs, item names, and marketing material for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its DLCs.
"Yesterday, March 27th 2026, with no forewarning, I was invited to a meeting and promptly told that, in an effort to 'make the company more effective' and 'save finances', as of next month, my position at the company would become 'obsolete' in favour of using AI for all translations going forward," Hejtmánek explained. "This came as a huge shock to me, as though the discussion about using AI for translating had frequently come up in the past, something I was always strongly and vocally against, but never to the extent that it might actually cost me my job in the future."
A look at Hejtmánek's LinkedIn shows he worked at Warhorse Studios between July 2022 and March 2026; additionally, the moderators of the Kingdom Come subreddit verified his identity. At this time, Warhorse Studios has not publicly commented on Hejtmánek's claim. We've reached out to a representative of publisher Plaion and Warhorse Studios for comment and will update this article with any response we receive.
The use of artificial intelligence by game developers is a controversial topic. While the technology permeates events like GDC, the backlash to its use is usually immense. Just this past weekend, Crimson Desert faced derision over the use of generative AI for in-game art assets.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 released to critical acclaim in February 2025 and was even nominated for Best Narrative, Game of the Year, and Best Role Playing Game at The Game Awards 2025. As such, it's disappointing to hear that AI will be used in any part of the creative writing process, even if it's solely for language translation. The head of Warhorse Studios did recently defend Nvidia's much-hated DLSS5 AI technology, though, so perhaps this pivot shouldn't be too surprising.
Facts Only
Max Hejtmánek, a Czech-to-English translator and editor, was employed by Warhorse Studios from July 2022 to March 2026.
Hejtmánek was fired on March 27, 2026, and informed his position would be replaced by AI for all future translations.
His responsibilities included dialogue, quest logs, item names, and marketing material for *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* and its DLCs.
Hejtmánek opposed the use of AI for translations during his tenure but did not anticipate losing his job over it.
The *Kingdom Come* subreddit moderators verified Hejtmánek’s identity.
Warhorse Studios has not publicly commented on the firing or AI replacement.
*Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* released in February 2025 and received critical acclaim, including Game Awards nominations.
The game’s publisher is Plaion.
Warhorse Studios’ head previously defended Nvidia’s DLSS5 AI technology.
The broader gaming industry has faced backlash over AI use, including *Crimson Desert*’s AI-generated art assets.
Executive Summary
A former Warhorse Studios developer, Max Hejtmánek, revealed he was fired and replaced by AI for localization tasks related to *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*. Hejtmánek, a Czech-to-English translator and editor, stated he was informed on March 27, 2026, that his role would be made obsolete in favor of AI to improve efficiency and cut costs. His LinkedIn confirms his employment from July 2022 to March 2026, and moderators of the *Kingdom Come* subreddit verified his identity. Warhorse Studios and publisher Plaion have not publicly responded to the claims.
The incident reflects broader industry tensions over AI adoption in game development. While AI tools are increasingly prevalent, their use often sparks backlash, as seen with *Crimson Desert*'s recent criticism for AI-generated art. *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*, released in February 2025 to critical acclaim, now faces scrutiny over its shift to AI-driven localization. The studio’s prior defense of Nvidia’s DLSS5 AI technology suggests a pattern of embracing AI solutions, though the ethical and creative implications remain debated.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a tangible case of AI displacing human labor in creative industries, framed as a cost-cutting measure with potential efficiency gains. Hejtmánek’s account is credible, verified by third parties, and aligns with broader industry trends where AI adoption is accelerating despite ethical concerns. The backlash against AI in gaming—whether for art, writing, or localization—suggests a growing tension between technological progress and the preservation of human craftsmanship.
Pattern scan: The narrative leans into emotional exploitation (ARC-0012 Rage Bait) by framing AI as a heartless corporate tool replacing a dedicated worker, which may provoke outrage. However, the source avoids outright distortion or bad faith, presenting Hejtmánek’s claims as factual without exaggeration. The absence of Warhorse’s response leaves room for ambiguity (ARC-0024 Ambiguity), but the article does not manufacture outrage or force a binary choice.
Root cause: The paradigm here is the tension between automation and human labor, a recurring historical pattern. The unstated assumption is that AI can replicate creative translation work without loss of quality—a claim that remains contested. This echoes past industrial revolutions where efficiency gains came at the cost of human roles, but with the added complexity of AI’s role in creative fields.
Implications: For human agency, this signals a potential devaluation of specialized linguistic and cultural expertise in favor of scalable, cost-effective solutions. The immediate beneficiaries are studios cutting costs, while the costs are borne by translators and potentially players if localization quality suffers. Second-order consequences could include a broader erosion of trust in AI-assisted creative work or, conversely, normalization of AI in game development pipelines.
Bridge questions: How might AI-driven localization affect the nuance and cultural authenticity of game narratives? What safeguards, if any, should studios implement when replacing human roles with AI? Would your perspective change if evidence showed AI localization improved accessibility or reduced errors?
Counterstrike scan: If this were a coordinated influence campaign, the playbook would amplify emotional narratives of "AI stealing jobs" to fuel anti-corporate sentiment or push for regulatory backlash against AI. However, the article presents a verified account without hyperbolic framing, aligning more with legitimate reporting than manipulation. No structural alignment with a hypothetical attack pattern is detected.