The debate over artificial intelligence in gaming has found an unlikely new flashpoint in Nvidia’s DLSS 5, but at lEast one high-profile developer is thoroughly entertained by the outrage. Daniel Vávra, creative director of Warhorse Studios and the driving force behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has described the backlash against the tech as “really funny,” while insisting that “absolutely every developer” in the industry already uses AI in some form.
Why Is Nvidia DLSS 5 Causing Such a Stir?
Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) has been a cornerstone of PC gaming performance for years, using AI-driven upscaling to deliver sharper visuals and higher frame rates without tanking hardware demands. However, the company’s latest showcase of DLSS 5 and its expanding suite of neural rendering technologies reignited a familiar argument among PC gamers: how much of what we see on screen should be generated by artificial intelligence rather than rendered “natively” by the GPU?
For a vocal segment of the community, the answer is “as little as possible.” Social media and forums filled with criticism the moment the new tech was revealed, with detractors arguing that AI-generated frames and neural rendering techniques amount to visual shortcuts rather than genuine graphical progress.
Daniel Vávra: “Absolutely Every Developer” Uses AI
The Warhorse Chief Finds the Outrage Amusing
Vávra, never one to shy away from controversy, told followers that he finds the whole furore “really funny.” In his view, the panic over DLSS 5 ignores a simple reality: AI-powered tools have quietly become standard equipment across the games industry. According to the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead, “absolutely every developer” relies on the technology in some capacity, whether players realize it or not.
He went further, pushing back against the notion that AI use signals laziness or a lack of skill. The “most talented people I know” use AI, Vávra stated, framing the tools as instruments that amplify creativity rather than replace it.
A Veteran’s Perspective on Modern Pipelines
It’s worth remembering that Vávra has been building games since the original Mafia in 2002. From that vantage point, AI-assisted upscaling, denoising, frame generation, and asset tools are simply the latest evolution in a long line of technical innovations — not so different from the shift to physically based rendering or real-time ray tracing. In that light, his amusement at the DLSS 5 pile-on is perhaps understandable: he’s watching gamers rage against technology that developers have already embraced en masse.
The Bigger Picture: Assistive AI vs. Generative AI
Here’s where some nuance is worth adding to the conversation. Much of the genuine anxiety around AI in gaming isn’t really about performance technologies like DLSS — it’s about generative AI potentially replacing human artists, writers, and voice actors. Upscaling tech that helps a GPU render a beautiful medieval Bohemia more efficiently is a very different proposition from algorithms churning out dialogue or concept art wholesale.
Vávra’s comments land hardest on the former point. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was widely praised for its handcrafted world, obsessive historical authenticity, and deeply human storytelling — hardly the output of a studio cutting creative corners. His argument seems to be that using modern tools and making a painstakingly authored game are not mutually exclusive.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Keeps Winning
Whatever your stance on the AI debate, there’s no arguing with Warhorse Studios’ results. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launched to critical acclaim in early 2025 and has sold millions of copies, cementing itself as one of the year’s standout RPGs. With continued post-launch support polishing the experience, there has never been a better time to step into Henry’s boots.
If you haven’t yet experienced 15th-century Bohemia for yourself, you can pick up Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 game codes at great prices on TURGAME.com — your go-to store for game keys and digital gift cards.
Source: GamesRadar