Warhorse Studios Clarifies AI Use and Teases New RPG in Reddit AMA

Warhorse Studios, the developer behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance, recently held a Reddit AMA that sparked discussions about AI, human labor, and potential new projects. The session provided clarity on the studio’s stance toward artificial intelligence and offered a tantalizing hint about its next game.

AI in Game Development: A Balanced Approach

The AMA quickly turned to questions about the studio’s use of AI, particularly after reports surfaced about dismissing a translator in favor of AI tools. Warhorse Studios responded by emphasizing that AI is not a substitute for human work.

"We do not see AI as a substitute for human work."

The studio explained that while some team members find AI useful during early production stages, it does not use AI-generated content in final game releases. Warhorse Studios also confirmed that it has no plans to change this policy in the future.

Addressing Concerns About Translators

A user named Very_Human_42069 asked: "Why did you fire an employee that played such a crucial part of bringing this game to the English-speaking world, and why do you plan on using AI going forward?"

Creative director Prokop Jirsa (username Prokop_Whs) responded by stating that internal HR matters could not be discussed but reassured the community:

"What I can say is that we are currently in the process of hiring new English translators. Actual humans."

Rumors of a Lord of the Rings RPG: The Verdict

The AMA also addressed persistent rumors about Warhorse Studios developing a Lord of the Rings RPG. User Eledhwen1 inquired about the possibility, noting that such a project would likely remain undisclosed.

Content director Ondřej Bittner responded with a playful acknowledgment before delivering the news:

"Voilà! There is a response! But unfortunately not the one you hope for. We are hard at work on ... something. I cannot disclose details, but I can tell it is a huge, immersive RPG."

The response left fans speculating about the nature of the project, though it fell short of confirming a Middle-earth title. The studio’s description, however, fueled excitement about a potential new open-world RPG.

Fan Reactions and Speculation

While the confirmation of a new RPG was met with enthusiasm, some fans expressed hope that the game might be set in Lord of the Rings lore. The idea of exploring locations like The Shire, Gondor, Rohan, or even Mordor without loading screens sparked imaginations.

The studio’s vague yet ambitious description left many eager for more details, with hopes that the project would avoid the pitfalls of past adaptations, such as lengthy playtimes as Gollum.

What’s Next for Warhorse Studios?

Warhorse Studios has yet to reveal further details about its upcoming RPG, but the AMA provided valuable insights into its development philosophy. The studio’s commitment to human-driven processes and its focus on immersive, large-scale RPGs suggest a promising future for its next project.

Fans will have to wait for official announcements to learn more, but the hints dropped in the AMA have already set high expectations.