Warhorse Studios Addresses AI Translator Layoff Claims

The Czech developer Warhorse Studios faced intense scrutiny during a Reddit AMA after a former employee claimed his translation role was eliminated in favor of artificial intelligence. The studio responded by clarifying its AI policy and confirming it is actively recruiting human translators.

The controversy began when Max Hejtmánek, the English editor and voiceover director for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, posted on Reddit that his position had been made "obsolete" as of March 27, 2026. Hejtmánek stated the decision came during a meeting where management explained the move would "make the company more effective" and "save finances." The announcement shocked him, particularly because discussions about AI translation had surfaced before, but never to the point of actual job elimination.

Warhorse Studios addressed the allegations directly during a Q&A session on the r/gaming subreddit. Five senior staff members, including creative directors Viktor Bocan and Prokop Jirsa, fielded questions that overwhelmingly focused on the translator situation. The studio's official statement read: "We do not see AI as a substitute for human work, and we are currently looking to expand the company, including our translation team. 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." The response was posted as a locked comment by a moderator after the AMA became dominated by AI-related questions.

When asked if aspiring translators still had a chance to work at the studio, Jirsa replied bluntly: "Definitely. We are currently in the process of hiring new translators. Yes, actual humans. Plural." This stands in contrast to the studio's initial response on March 30, when a spokesperson told Kotaku that they would not discuss individual situations publicly out of respect for privacy and dignity.

The situation highlights a broader tension in the gaming industry. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 released to critical acclaim in February 2025, earning nominations for Best Narrative, Game of the Year, and Best Role Playing Game at The Game Awards 2025. The game's success made the cost-cutting rationale particularly jarring to observers. As one Reddit commenter noted: "They bragged that the game made all of their money back in a single day. Now they fire people to save finances?"

Warhorse is not alone in navigating AI implementation. Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson recently stated that 85% of its QA staff use some form of AI to assist their jobs. Other studios like Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) and Pearl Abyss (Crimson Desert) faced backlash after generative AI art accidentally appeared in their final releases. Larian Studios controversially used generative AI for its upcoming Divinity game, while CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3 director said his team's new project used generative AI early in development.

The distinction matters to players. Translation is not merely swapping words between languages. It requires understanding cultural context, idioms, and the specific tone of dialogue. Medieval Czech phrases, period-accurate terminology, and character-specific speech patterns all demand human judgment. AI can produce flat, generic output that strips away the personality that made Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 memorable. As one commenter put it: "I can't imagine AI being able to capture that."

Warhorse's internal debate about hosting the AMA at all reveals the studio's awareness of the stakes. One developer noted that holding the session "gives us the opportunity to clear the air. Let's see if we manage that." The result was mixed. While the studio clarified its position, the AMA became a public relations exercise that many fans found unsatisfying. The locked comment format, rather than open dialogue, suggested the studio was managing damage rather than engaging transparently.

The broader implications extend beyond one studio. The video game actor strike took so long to resolve because unions pushed for AI protections. Nvidia has become the world's most valuable company, nearing $5 trillion in market cap, largely due to AI chip demand. This wealth concentration creates pressure on studios to adopt efficiency tools, even when creative work resists automation.

For players, the choice becomes personal. Some refuse to buy games from studios that use AI in any capacity, regardless of whether it appears in the final product. Others accept AI as an inevitable tool, like spellcheck or grammar software. The friction point is where efficiency meets artistry. Translation, localization, and creative writing are not assembly-line tasks. They require human understanding of nuance, humor, and cultural specificity.

Warhorse's claim that it is hiring "actual humans" for translation roles may restore some trust. But the damage is done. The studio's reputation for authentic, human-crafted medieval storytelling now carries a question mark. Whether players will accept the studio's explanation or view it as a public relations maneuver remains to be seen. The real test comes when the next game releases and players notice whether the dialogue feels as sharp as before.

Whether users actually pay for it remains the real question.

Artūras Malašauskas is an AI Systems Integrator with 20+ years of production-grade web engineering experience. He has designed, shipped, and scaled enterprise Python/PHP systems for logistics, SaaS, and public-sector clients. For the past year, he has focused exclusively on AI integrations: deploying open-source LLMs, building generative media pipelines (image, audio, video), and engineering multi-agent workflows for real production environments. His standard: reproducibility, security, cost-efficient inference—no vaporware. He documents and evaluates emerging AI tooling, separating verified capabilities from marketing noise. Technical editor at: muza-ai.eu, ai-verslas.lt, ai-naujinos.lt Connect on LinkedIn