Warhorse Studios Clarifies AI Usage in Kingdom Come Development

Warhorse Studios, the Czech developer known for the Kingdom Come RPG series, has addressed allegations regarding the use of artificial intelligence within its production pipeline. The studio confirmed that while it utilizes AI systems, these tools are not intended to replace human staff.

The clarification comes amid industry-wide scrutiny over the role of generative AI in game development, specifically concerning the displacement of specialized creative and technical roles.

AI Implementation and Final Assets

During a Reddit AMA, Warhorse Studios detailed how the technology is currently integrated into its workflow. The studio stated that some team members utilize AI during the early stages of production to assist in development.

Some team members find AI useful during early stages of production. However, we do not use AI-generated content in the final game and we have no plans to change this in the future.

Warhorse Studios, via Reddit AMA

By specifying that AI is limited to early production, the studio aims to distance the final artistic and narrative assets of its titles from generative AI outputs, a point of significant contention among players and industry professionals.

Controversy Over Staffing and Translation

The studio’s public comments follow reports of a conflict involving a former employee. A developer identified as Max H. Alleged that their position as a translator was made obsolete.

According to reports, the decision to remove the translator role was part of a broader effort by Warhorse Studios to make the company more effective and to save finances.

The situation has highlighted the tension between corporate cost-cutting measures and the preservation of human expertise in localization and translation, particularly for a series like Kingdom Come that emphasizes historical accuracy and linguistic detail.

The developer’s claim that AI was the catalyst for their job becoming obsolete contradicts the studio’s broader assertion that AI is not meant to replace humans, creating a point of friction in the public narrative surrounding the development of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.