The release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 in February 2025 has solidified Warhorse Studios’ reputation as a powerhouse in the RPG genre, with the game selling over two million copies in under two weeks and earning a Metacritic score of 88. Amid this success, director Daniel Vávra has sparked discussion with his comments on the potential role of artificial intelligence in future game development. In a recent interview with The Game Business on YouTube, Vávra expressed optimism about AI’s ability to streamline the development process, allowing studios to produce games faster without sacrificing quality. His remarks come at a time when AI’s integration into the gaming industry is both celebrated for its efficiency and criticized for its potential to disrupt jobs, making Vávra’s perspective a focal point for fans and developers alike.
Vávra’s primary motivation for embracing AI is the lengthy development cycle of modern AAA games, which can take five to seven years. “It really annoys me that games take so much time, because I have more ideas than I have time,” he said, highlighting his desire to bring ambitious projects to life before retiring. He envisions AI as a tool to assist developers, not replace them, by automating repetitive tasks and optimizing workflows. For instance, AI could enhance NPC behavior, reduce bugs, or accelerate asset creation, enabling studios to focus on creative vision. Vávra’s comments align with a broader industry trend, as a recent study noted that most developers worldwide are already using AI to some extent, despite concerns about its ethical implications.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a sprawling medieval RPG set in 15th-century Bohemia, exemplifies the challenges of modern game development. With a script exceeding 2.2 million words—potentially the longest in gaming history—the game required years of meticulous work from Warhorse’s 250-person team. The sequel’s success, with over 250,000 concurrent Steam players at its peak, underscores the demand for immersive single-player experiences. However, Vávra’s acknowledgment of his own health struggles during development highlights the personal toll of such projects. He sees AI as a way to alleviate these pressures, allowing developers to work more efficiently and maintain their well-being while pursuing ambitious ideas.
The gaming community has mixed reactions to Vávra’s stance. Fans on platforms like X praise his forward-thinking approach, with posts noting that AI could help Warhorse deliver more games in the vein of Kingdom Come. Others, however, express unease about AI’s potential to displace jobs, particularly in quality assurance and voice acting. A recent Google patent for AI-driven QA testing, for example, has raised fears of job losses in the industry. While Vávra did not address employment impacts directly, his focus on AI as a supportive tool suggests a belief that human creativity remains irreplaceable. Warhorse has also confirmed that no generative AI was used in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, dispelling rumors about AI-generated voices for minor NPCs.
Vávra’s comments also reflect his broader critique of the gaming industry. He has argued that AAA publishers’ risk-averse strategies, often tied to $200 million budgets, stifle innovation. Instead, he advocates for mid-budget games with $50 million price tags, like Kingdom Come, which can take creative risks and still achieve massive success. AI, in his view, could lower the barriers to such projects, enabling studios to experiment with bold concepts without ballooning costs. This perspective resonates with Warhorse’s own journey, from a crowdfunded underdog in 2011 to a studio acquired by Embracer, now delivering a sequel that rivals The Witcher in scope.
As Warhorse plans paid expansions for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 in 2025, Vávra’s comments hint at an exciting future. He teased “a couple of projects” with potential as big as Kingdom Come, though details remain scarce. The industry is watching closely, as AI’s role in gaming continues to evolve. While some, like Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, argue that AI won’t replace developers but could enhance efficiency, others warn of intellectual property theft and job insecurity. Vávra’s cautious optimism—rooted in a desire to create more without compromising quality—offers a nuanced take on this debate. For now, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 stands as a testament to Warhorse’s ambition, and Vávra’s embrace of AI signals a bold step toward redefining how epic RPGs are made.
