However, it incorporates noticeable progressive elements through an optional but fully developed same-sex romance path with companion Hans Capon. Players select heart-icon dialogue options across multiple main quests (Back in the Saddle, Taking French Leave, The Italian Job, Hunger and Despair) to build affection, culminating in a kiss and intimate cutscene; this path is mutually exclusive with the Katherine romance and has dedicated guides plus Gayming Award nominations. A short same-sex fling with Black Bartoush is also available.

The Jewish Quarter in Kuttenberg forms a central spine of the main plot, including a quest defending the synagogue from a pogrom, despite the in-game codex noting its historical nonexistence there; developers inserted it to portray Jewish perspectives and worldviews. Additional ethnic diversity includes characters like Musa of Mali and broader representation in the cosmopolitan city, justified by the studio as historical accuracy for Kuttenberg but foregrounded in marketing and research with diverse advisors. Director Daniel Vávra personally championed the Hans romance as 'natural' and 'educational' about medieval realities while rejecting 'woke' labels, yet the additions sparked player backlash in Steam reviews and culture-war discourse over 'seduction nudge' and plot insertions. These elements influence character arcs and subplots without redefining the premise or forcing participation.