Warhorse Studios has reportedly fired a key member of its development team as the studio shifts toward using artificial intelligence for translation work, a move that has raised fresh concerns about how AI is changing jobs inside the gaming industry. The claim comes from former voice-over director and Czech to English translator Max Hejtmánek, who says the company suddenly ended his role while he was still actively working on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its DLC content.
Hejtmánek shared his account publicly and described the decision as unexpected and difficult to process, explaining that he joined Warhorse Studios in 2022 and had been closely involved in the game’s production, while also noting that discussions around AI translation had taken place earlier but never suggested an immediate threat to his position.
Sudden Exit Linked to AI Shift
According to Hejtmánek, the studio informed him during a meeting on March 27, 2026, that his role would become obsolete as the company plans to rely on AI tools for all future translations, with management framing the decision as part of an effort to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
He added that the decision left him feeling betrayed and heartbroken, especially because he had consistently voiced concerns about relying on AI for translation quality, and he believed his work still held long-term value for the studio.
Studio Response and Industry Context
Warhorse Studios declined to comment on the specific situation.
In a statement to Kotaku, the studio said it values its team but would not discuss individual employment matters publicly.
The situation reflects a wider shift across the industry, as the 2026 GDC State of the Game Industry report shows many studios now use generative AI tools, even as a majority of developers say the technology is negatively affecting the industry.
Warhorse Studios founder Daniel Vávra has previously supported the use of AI in game development, stating that it can help teams work faster and focus on more creative tasks, though he also acknowledged that the technology remains controversial.
