Warhorse Studios Hints at New RPG but Sidesteps Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3 and Lord of the Rings Rumors

Key facts

• Warhorse Studios held a Reddit AMA to address community questions after laying off a translator and replacing them with AI.
• Head of Art Viktor Höschl stated the studio has 'nothing else planned' for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 DLC.
• Content Director Ondřej Bittner said the next project is 'a huge immersive RPG' but declined to confirm a Lord of the Rings game.
• Bittner indicated the next game reveal will come in the 'near future'.
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was nominated for BAFTA Games Awards after a successful launch.
• Lead actor Tom McKay has taken on other film and TV roles; actor Luke Dale has built a streaming following.
• Warhorse previously denied rumors of a Lord of the Rings RPG in March.

A Studio Under Scrutiny After AI Translation Controversy

Warhorse Studios, the Czech developer behind the medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance, faced a public relations crisis this week after laying off a translator and replacing them with an AI solution. The decision sparked backlash among fans and prompted the studio to hold a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session to address concerns. The AMA, which featured several senior team members, was intended to restore transparency. However, it quickly became dominated by questions about the future of the franchise, leaving the studio to navigate both a reputational storm and high expectations from its player base.

No More Content for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

When asked about additional content for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which launched to critical and commercial success last year, the studio was unequivocal. Viktor Höschl, Head of Art at Warhorse, stated that the team has 'nothing else planned' for the game, effectively sunsetting it after roughly a year of post-launch support. The game had been nominated for awards, including at the recent BAFTA Games Awards, and attracted millions of players. Yet the decision to halt development on further DLC suggests the studio is shifting its focus entirely to a new project.

A New RPG, but Not Necessarily Lord of the Rings

Rumors have circulated since March that Warhorse was working on a game set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. When a Reddit user asked directly whether a Lord of the Rings game was in development, Content Director Ondřej Bittner did not deny it. Instead, he said the team was 'hard at work on... something' and described it as 'a huge immersive RPG'. Pressed further on whether the next project would be a historical RPG, Bittner assured fans that whatever it is, it 'will definitely be an RPG true to our colours - huge, story-driven and immersive'. He added that a reveal would come in the 'near future', though no specific timeframe was given.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3 Unlikely as Cast Moves On

Despite the franchise's success, a third Kingdom Come: Deliverance game appears improbable. The studio's responses during the AMA consistently deflected questions about a sequel, with multiple team members offering the same non-committal answer. The game's lead actor, Tom McKay, has taken on roles in film and television, while Luke Dale, who portrays Hans Capon, has built a successful streaming career. These developments, combined with the studio's focus on a new IP, suggest that Warhorse may be ready to leave the story of Henry of Skalitz behind. The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance launched almost a decade ago, and the sequel's DLC cycle has now concluded.

A Developer at a Crossroads

Warhorse Studios has weathered multiple controversies over the years, but the translator layoff and AI replacement represent a new low in community relations. The AMA was an attempt to rebuild trust, but it also revealed a studio in transition — one that is eager to move on to new creative horizons while still tethered to the expectations of a passionate fanbase. The decision to remain cryptic about the next project, neither confirming nor denying the Lord of the Rings rumor, keeps speculation alive. For now, the studio's message is clear: it is working on something big, but fans will have to wait for details.

What Comes Next for Warhorse and Its Fans

With Kingdom Come: Deliverable 2 now effectively complete, the immediate future of Warhorse hinges on the reveal of its next RPG. Bittner's promise of a 'near future' announcement offers a timeline, but the studio's silence on specifics leaves room for doubt. For fans hoping for a return to Bohemia, the signs are discouraging. The studio's reluctance to discuss a third installment, combined with the cast's departure to other projects, points to a franchise on ice. Whether Warhorse's next game is set in Middle-earth or an original world, it will need to live up to the high standards set by its medieval predecessors.

The bottom line

• Warhorse Studios has ended support for Kingdom Come: Deliver 2 after one year of DLC, with no plans for further content.
• The studio is developing a new 'huge immersive RPG' but has not confirmed whether it is a Lord of the Rings game or a new IP.
• A reveal for the next project is expected in the 'near future'.řej Bittner.
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3 appears unlikely as key cast members have moved on to other projects.
• The studio faced backlash after laying off a translator and replacing them with AI, leading to a damage-control AMA.
• Warhorse's next game will be 'an RPG true to our colours', emphasizing story-driven, immersive gameplay.