Director of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 wants AI to speed up game development

Daniel Vávra talks about industry burnout and how he plans to use technology to his advantage

The weight of the gaming industry is unforgiving, and not even heavyweights can escape it. Daniel Vávra, director of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, opened up about the intense pressure he faced to finish the development of the title, revealing that he even faced health problems during the process. Now, he is looking for a new ally for the future: artificial intelligence.

In an interview with The Game Business, Vávra went straight to the point: "The pressure to finish the game caused me serious health problems. I need to slow down a bit," he said. But slowing down doesn't mean stopping: the director made it clear that he wants to use AI to optimize development, not to replace his teams.
"It annoys me that games take so long to be ready, because I have more ideas than available time," Vávra lamented. For him, technology is a tool that can automate repetitive tasks and free up more space for creativity — something vital for someone who already has new projects in mind.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, released in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, further solidified Warhorse Studios's name as a studio that focuses on historical realism and dense narratives. The game was widely praised by critics, not only for its fidelity to medieval history, but also for the technical advancements compared to the first title in the series, released in 2018.

Even with the recent success, Vávra doesn't hide his ambition: "These are projects that require a lot of time and preparation. But I believe they have the same potential as what we have done so far," he commented, hinting that he already envisions new adventures on the level of Kingdom Come.

The debate about the use of AI in the gaming industry is heating up. On one side, there are those who fear the replacement of artists and writers. On the other, creators like Vávra see technology as an opportunity to balance creativity and quality of life. In times when production cycles are longer and more demanding — as seen in recent cases like the delay of The Witcher 4 and the restructuring at Ubisoft — seeking new paths seems inevitable.

If the promise comes true, the future of realistic RPGs could be shaped by both the creative vision of veterans and the precision of machines. It remains to be seen whether this man-machine partnership will deliver even more memorable experiences without sacrificing those behind the screens.