Developer of 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance II' fired and claims 'replaced by AI'
Max Heitmanek, who was in charge of localization at Warhorse Studios, the developer of '
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 developer claims AI is replacing them
https://www.polygon.com/kingdom-come-deliverance-2-developer-fired-ai/
On March 28, 2026, Heitmanek announced on Reddit that he had been fired from Warhorse Studios. Heitmanek had been working at Warhorse Studios since July 2022, responsible for translating and editing from Czech to English. He claims he primarily worked on 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance II' and its downloadable content (DLC), creating dialogue, quest logs, item names, and various other tasks, as well as marketing materials. Heitmanek wrote, 'If you've ever played 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance II' in English, you've probably seen my work.'
However, on March 27, Heitmanek was summoned to a meeting without prior notice and informed that his translation and editing role had become obsolete in order to streamline the company and cut costs. He was also told that all translation work would be handled by AI from now on. This came as a huge shock to Heitmanek, who said, 'There have been many discussions about using AI for translation, and I have always been strongly opposed to it. I never imagined that it would lead to me losing my job in the future. Of course, the thought of being fired crossed my mind, but I mistakenly thought that I wouldn't lose my job anytime soon because my work at Warhorse Studios is well valued.'
Furthermore, they wrote, 'We want you to know that the expanding use of AI is having a significant impact on many people, including those in the gaming industry. We also want you to know how much the companies that create the games you love care not only about their employees' work but also about the environment.'
A Reddit moderator confirmed that Hejtmánek worked at Warhorse Studios for 3 years and 9 months, and his name, 'Max Hejtmánek,' is listed as the voiceover director in the credits for 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.'
Heitmanek added, 'Please do not harass anyone at Warhorse Studios or review bomb their games on Steam. I have absolutely no such intention. All I want is for more people to know what is happening behind the scenes in the gaming industry.'
The use of AI by game developers is a controversial topic. While AI is widely used at events like GDC, the world's largest conference for game developers, there is also significant opposition to its use. In March 2026, 'Crimson Desert' drew criticism for using generative AI in its in-game art.
Developers of 'Crimson Desert' apologize for use of AI art - GIGAZINE
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