Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Developer Addresses Banning Rumors

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Developer Stands Against Unfounded Banning Rumors

In a recent social media post, Daniel Vávra, the co-founder of Warhorse Studios, directly addressed the circulating rumors suggesting that the much-anticipated video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 had been banned in Saudi Arabia due to its inclusion of LGBTQ+ content. These rumors originated from a post by the Arabic video games website VGA4A on January 14th, claiming the game featured "unskippable gay cut scenes."

Vávra took to X/Twitter on January 19th to debunk these rumors. He emphatically stated that the game has not been banned in the Middle East or anywhere else globally. His post was a clarion call to end the spread of misinformation about the game, which he believes was based on nothing more than a single screenshot and a poorly translated tweet.

In his statement, Vávra said, "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. Gay characters were already in [Kingdom Come: Deliverance]1." This comment reflects the studio's stance on creative freedom and diversity within their games. While acknowledging the presence of LGBTQ+ characters in both the original game and its upcoming sequel, he emphasized that players have agency in their gameplay experiences, including the initiation of same-sex relationships.

Vávra continued to explain the context of diversity within the game, stating, "The game takes place in one of the richest cities in Europe [Bohemia], which was besieged by a massive foreign army. That’s the reason why life in such a city is more diverse than life in villages, which featured in the first game." This historical context serves as a narrative foundation for the diversity seen in the game, which includes LGBTQ+ characters.

Amid the controversy, Vávra expressed concern over how the game is being used as a tool for clickbait by individuals who may not have even played it yet. He lamented that "the amount of hateful behavior is really sad and it will damage any cause associated with it." His words serve as a reminder of the importance of respectful discourse and accurate representation in discussions about media and culture.

Warhorse Studios stands firm in their commitment to creating authentic and diverse narratives. They have designed Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 not only as an engaging action role-playing game but also as a platform where players can explore various facets of humanity, including sexuality and diversity, within a historically rich setting.

As the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 approaches, the developers hope that players and fans will focus on the game itself, rather than unfounded rumors. They encourage the gaming community to engage with the game with an open mind, ready to explore the intricacies of its story and characters.

Join the conversation! We invite you to share your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. Remember to keep the discussion respectful and consider the perspectives of others as we continue to explore diverse narratives in gaming.

Tags: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, LGBTQ+, video game rumors, Daniel Vávra, Warhorse Studios