Warhorse Studios seems unable to catch a break. Even after its success with the highly original medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance (KCD), the studio is once again thrust into the spotlight, this time by a pendulum that might have swung too far.
Some context: back in February 2018, when KCD was released (following its 2014 Kickstarter campaign), Warhorse Studios and its founder, Daniel Vávra, faced criticism from game journalists for not including Black characters in a game set in 1403 Bohemia, a region of the Holy Roman Empire.
Vávra defended his decision, stating that the game aimed to be historically accurate, and based on his sources, there were no Black people in the area at that time.
A screenshot from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2024), Warhorse Studios
The controversy didn’t end there.
Vávra was also targeted for his apparent support of Gamergate, a movement that started as a pushback against unethical practices in game journalism but was labeled by many critics as a harassment campaign against women and minorities. He was further criticized for his comments opposing Anita Sarkeesian, a media critic known for highlighting the sexualization of female characters in video games.
Sarkeesian’s critiques often went beyond specific games, portraying gamers as inherently misogynistic, racist, and bigoted, while promoting a “woke” agenda that some saw as hypocritical and harmful. For instance, her infamous Tropes vs. Women in Video Games series often omitted context, drawing ire from both gamers and developers.
Anita Sarkeesian speaking at an event – YouTube, OrionFoot
As a result, certain outlets refused to review KCD, citing Vávra’s perceived “bigotry” and his association with Gamergate as reasons for their boycott. For example, Waypoint (a subsidiary of Vice Media) openly stated they would not review the game, claiming it was not worth their coverage due to Vávra’s views.
Gamergate, from the perspective of such outlets, was framed as a hate-filled harassment movement, while in reality, many gamers saw it as a response to unethical practices and overt politicization in gaming media.
Despite this attempted smear campaign, KCD gained significant traction through word-of-mouth. Many players appreciated its nuanced, realistic portrayal of medieval life and its engaging RPG mechanics. The story of Henry, a blacksmith’s son thrust into the chaos of 15th-century Bohemia, resonated with players for its grounded, relatable narrative. The game’s success defied expectations, selling over 3 million copies and securing the future of Warhorse Studios to develop a sequel.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – A Sequel Battling Modern Gaming Controversies
The sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD 2), is set to continue Henry’s journey, picking up from where the previous game left off. Maintaining the medieval RPG mechanics, the sequel promises to be a bigger and better version of its predecessor. Many gamers, including myself, eagerly anticipate its release on February 4, 2025.
Yet, even with a larger budget, a clearer plan, and a strong foundation in the gaming industry, Warhorse Studios and KCD 2 have not entirely escaped the controversies that plagued them during the release of the first game in 2018.
A screenshot from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2024), Warhorse Studios
The smearing reignited when Daniel Vávra compared the current player count of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance to that of Dragon Age: The Veilguard on social media. His post highlighted that a nearly seven-year-old game had more active players than a newly released title from the well-established Dragon Age franchise.
This comparison was widely seen as a critique of The Veilguard’s development choices, which many fans argued prioritized a forced inclusivity over the core elements that once defined the Dragon Age series. The introduction of gender politics felt, to many, like pandering rather than organic storytelling. These changes alienated long-time fans, who felt excluded from a franchise they had supported for years. By focusing on “modernizing” the series, the developers seemingly stripped away the dark fantasy elements that had made Dragon Age a beloved franchise, leaving behind a hollow shell of its former self.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare
Vávra’s post drew criticism from some who saw it as unprofessional for a CEO. Predictably, detractors revived past controversies, pointing to his support for Gamergate and reigniting the accusations that had dogged him during the release of the original KCD. Yet, this “controversy” appeared to backfire, as many gamers rallied behind Vávra’s blunt critique. Some even speculated that preorders for KCD 2 saw a boost, fueled by renewed support for Warhorse Studios and its commitment to delivering a game that prioritized authenticity over pandering.
Unskippable Divisive Content? How ‘KCD 2’ Faced Rumors and Backlash
For a while, the controversy seemed to die down until a Saudi-based gaming outlet, VGA4A, posted on X claiming that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 would be banned in Saudi Arabia.
The tweet stated that the title was banned in the kingdom due to an unskippable love scene between two men in the game’s story mode.
A tweet from Saudi Arabian outlet VGA4A stating that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been banned in the kingdom – X, @VGA4A
The post quickly went viral in the gaming community, with influencers such as Grummz, Endymion, SmashJT, PiratNation, and others amplifying the story. This sparked widespread debate, with many gamers questioning whether Warhorse Studios had “bent the knee” to what some critics described as a “woke agenda.”
This was especially contentious given Daniel Vávra’s past and current public stance against pandering and forced diversity. However, the lack of an immediate response from Warhorse Studios only fueled further speculation. Many of the alleged “screenshots” being shared were later proven false and doctored, yet the damage to Warhorse’s reputation had already begun.
The attacks were further amplified by certain individuals who actively spread false rumors, seemingly aiming to harm Warhorse Studios and Vávra personally.
A post on X from Daniel Vavra, the creative director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – X, @DanielVavra
Eventually, Daniel Vávra addressed the rumors directly on X. He clarified:
“There are NO unskippable cutscenes in our games. Anybody who claims otherwise never played them.”
Additionally, he denied any bans, stating:
“We are NOT (nor ever were) banned in any country—at least not that we know of.”
Vávra also refuted claims of pandering to modern agendas, adding:
“As much as I don’t like ‘forced diversity,’ nobody was forcing us to do anything, and we are not forcing anyone to do certain things. KCD is an RPG. You are responsible for your decisions. If you want Henry to try a same-sex adventure, feel free. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. All affairs are (and were in KCD1) purely optional. The characters are perfectly aware that it was a forbidden sin.”
He further went on to emphasize the game’s historical authenticity.
“Everything displayed corresponds to the morals and social norms of 1403 Bohemia and is only there to make an interesting story,” he said, “and not at all to appeal to a ‘modern audience.'”
A screenshot from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2024), Warhorse Studios
This approach highlights Warhorse Studios’ commitment to portraying life in medieval Bohemia as accurately as possible. Ironically, this could make Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 one of the first games to authentically portray the challenges and societal stigma surrounding homosexuality during 1403 CE, providing a nuanced look at the societal norms and struggles of the time.
For many gamers, this commitment to historical realism—no matter how uncomfortable—adds a new level of authenticity and depth to the game. Vávra also reassured players that these choices would be entirely player-driven, aligning with the RPG’s focus on agency. For gamers who value accurate portrayals of history, this could offer a unique and nuanced perspective, even if it revisits some of the darker and more uncomfortable moments of the past.
KCD 2 and the Fine Line Between Historical Context and Modern Sensitivities
Despite these reassurances and confirmations that interactions in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will be in line with historical perspectives—and with influencers such as Grummz, Endymion, and others coming to Daniel Vávra’s defense—there are still those who, despite his response, believe there should be no divisive characters in the game at all.
They see this as a betrayal of what they claim is a fight against “woke ideology.”
Some have even gone so far as to question Daniel’s response, stating that he “said much without saying anything.” In other words, they believe his response was merely an attempt to pacify criticism, while still maintaining what they perceive to be an agenda-driven game. These critics have also harshly criticized Daniel for replying to an X user in the following way.
Daniel Vavra responding to a critic on X – Screenshot from X
This response led some to jump to the conclusion that Daniel, much like others accused of pushing “woke propaganda,” uses terms like this along with “racist,” or “bigot” to silence criticism.
However, based on tweets from this person, Lucian Draven, there is a clear pattern of antisemitic hatred. For example, Lucian has tweeted the following:
Tweets by Lucien Draven taken from X – Screenshot from X
And that’s just scratching the surface. These tweets alone demonstrate a consistent and vile hatred toward Jewish people, providing clear justification for Daniel’s refusal to engage further. There are additional tweets that feature various racial slurs all edited to avoid being flagged by X’s automated system. But they further highlight this pattern of bigotry. These examples are sufficient to discredit Lucian entirely.
Thus, in my opinion, Daniel is not wrong for refusing to engage with this kind of rhetoric. However, many people tend to jump to conclusions. We now live in a world where you are either uninformed or misinformed, and for the truth to come out, one often needs to read everything—something most people simply don’t have the time for, except perhaps me.
Unfortunately, these tweets might have given more credence to those who are determined to frame their opinions as facts rather than examining the truth as it truly is.
From Defenders to Critics: The Impact of Vávra’s Misstep on KCD 2
Yet the controversy hasn’t stopped here. Recently, Vávra faced backlash after criticizing a YouTuber, Rev Says Desu, who had been defending Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
In an article published on That Park Place, titled “YouTuber Defends Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Grifter Comment Backfires Bigtime as Allies Turn on Warhorse Studios,” the situation is thoroughly detailed. The article highlights how Vávra labeled Rev a “grifter,” based solely on the title of his video without actually watching it to get context. This prompted criticism, even from those who had previously supported him. As a result, many of his allies are now respectfully defending the YouTuber, pointing out that Vávra may have acted prematurely.
A screenshot of the exchange between Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 director Daniel Vavra and YouTuber Rev Says Desu – X
This incident highlights the irony of the situation, as it appears Daniel himself may have jumped to conclusions—just as others have done toward him in the past. Instead of fully reviewing the video Rev produced, which was intended to defend him, Vávra’s reaction caused a rift within his support base.
As the That Park Place article outlines, Rev’s video primarily criticized broader industry trends while standing up for Vávra against detractors.
Furthermore, this reaction is significant given comments Vávra recently made during a podcast appearance, where he stated that game developers are often intimidated by YouTubers and influencers like Asmongold, Grummz, and others. Vávra explained that the criticism these individuals levy against gaming companies, often based on gamer reactions, can have a profound impact on whether a company’s latest release succeeds or fails. This dynamic makes his response to Rev particularly notable, as it now seems he may have inadvertently alienated some of the very people who had been supporting him.
A screenshot from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2024), Warhorse Studios
While it seems he may have realized his error, this incident serves as a reminder of the power and influence that YouTubers and online personalities wield in shaping public perception. It was these very influencers who ensured Kingdom Come: Deliverance 1 succeeded, spreading positive word of mouth about the game. Warhorse Studios thoroughly deserved the success they achieved.
Balancing the Pendulum: What Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Teaches Us About Modern Gaming Debates
It is indeed ironic that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 1 managed to escape its own controversies back in the day, only for its sequel to now face new challenges. Interestingly, this time the controversy does not stem from those pushing “woke propaganda” but rather from hardline anti-woke critics.
This pendulum swing seems to have gone so far that some may forget the importance of historical context, the portrayal of well-written characters, and the proper presentation of social issues from our past.
A screenshot from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2024), Warhorse Studios
As shown before, Daniel and his team at Warhorse Studios have consistently pushed back against forced inclusivity, and now they find themselves in a position where they must push back against those demanding they conform to a different set of ideological expectations. Whether or not you choose to buy the game based on this entire debacle—whether you see it as good or bad—illustrates that neither side should jump to conclusions without proper context.
No one can truly know if Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a good or bad game until they’ve played it. Perhaps this controversy will ultimately reinforce and strengthen Warhorse Studios, or perhaps it will leave a black mark on how they’ve handled these challenges. Regardless, we will all need to wait until the game’s release on February 4, 2025 to experience it firsthand and, as always, formulate our own individual opinions about it.
What do you make of this wile Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 controversy timeline? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
This reads like damage control. There are details missing like the Steam hate speech rules applied immediately after the controversy and Warhorse’s flip-flops around Henry being gay and blacks in Bohemia at the time. They don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, especially considering Vavra’s behaviour and they won’t get my money.
What a world we live in that they make characters gay, they demand making characters gay, and then get upset when people say that the characters are gay.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that got that impression.
Like, no I’m sorry but it didn’t all start from a single person on x being racist, question will remain if the situation hadn’t leaked on that saudi website, would it have been mentioned at all before release?
At this point not even deep silver forcing a changing to the community guidelines in the steam forum is enough to justify the general hostility towards what was supposed to be their audiences.
Yep – just gotta start watching the article author – Francesco Solbakk seems to be a woke content defender based on the last two articles of his that I have read, so I won’t be clicking on anymore of them.
I am sorry to hear that
You can never be woke enough to satisfy the woke. Make a game for woke people and they won’t want it because it’s not woke enough
By contrast, it’s very easy to make a game that’s too woke for the rest of the population.
Your best bet is to make a game that isn’t woke at all. You’ll never make the woke happy but the rest of the population should be your target.
Ya, I’m done reading Franceso Solbakk’s articles after this one – he just runs cover for these goofballs in a similar way that we’d expect from Kotaku, IGN, etc.
No mention of the Plaion community manager’s racist Code of Conduct on the Steam forums against white people with no mention of black supremacy – wonder why that was, Francesco…oh and by the way Plaion has now gone in and deleted that post because it was so friggin’ racist and getting a ton of pushback.
First of all, thank you for taking the time to read my article, even if you didn’t like it. Secondly, could you share more about this Plaion racist comment, or provide a link? I’d like to look into it.
I replied but the system says “awaiting for approval” so hopefully it gets approved. Guessing it needs approval due to the link I provided for you.
I also tried to post a link and it’s stuck on waiting for approval. But it’s not hard to find screenshots of the community guidelines. If you make an article where you explain every controversy on a timeline, I would expect you to do some research first. And if you research the topic, you should come across the community guidelines topic very fast, as it’s been discussed a lot in all sorts of places.
Thank you
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