Deliverance 2 Director Explains the Reason For Its Success

The director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 recently commented on the game’s popularity, citing its story as the main reason for its continuing success and admitting that he originally pitched the title as “a medieval Red Dead Redemption with swords.” Based in historical realism, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has found critical acclaim, with the sequel fixing many of the issues present in the first game.

In the month following its release, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 sold over 2 million copies, outselling its predecessor by a whopping five times. The title has been applauded by both players and critics alike for its RPG mechanics, vast open world, and story, the latter of which centers around Henry of Skalitz as he seeks revenge against King Sigismund of Luxembourg. While the first game was riddled with bugs and technical issues at launch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 included very few, with developer Warhorse Studios noting that it had learned much from the original title’s release. Players continue to flock to 1403 Bohemia months after the game’s release, and its director has a few theories as to why that may be.

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Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Fans Are Struggling With Hardcore Mode

Following Warhorse Studios’ addition of the new Hardcore mode to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, players are already struggling with its negative perks.

In an interview with The Game Business, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 director Daniel Vávra shared his thoughts on the game’s success, citing its story as the reason for its popularity. “The story has to be good, by which I mean cool characters that you can relate to,” he said. Notably, Vávra cited both The Witcher and Red Dead Redemption series as examples of great game storytelling, even admitting that he first pitched Kingdom Come: Deliverance to publishers as “a medieval Red Dead Redemption with swords.” During the same interview, the director shared his thoughts on the use of AI in game development, stating that in the future, the technology could be used to greatly speed up the process.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Director Cites the Game’s Story as the Reason for Its Success

Earlier this month, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 added a Hardcore mode, making the title much more difficult for players seeking a new challenge. When the mode is turned on, players are unable to fast travel, and three permanent negative perks must be selected at the start of each run. These nerfs include Numbskull, which slows how quickly players gain experience, or Heavy-Footed, which increases movement noise. Combat is also tougher, with enemies more likely to flank the player.

More content is on the way for the action-adventure RPG, with Warhorse Studios sharing a Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 roadmap earlier this year. Each season will see a new DLC release, with “Brushes with Death” in summer, “Legacy of the Forge” in autumn, and “Mysteria Ecclesiae” in the winter. All three are part of the game’s expansion pack.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

10/10

Released

February 4, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity

Developer(s)

Warhorse Studios

Engine

CryEngine