Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Producer Advocates for a Return to Classic RPGs with Bold Creative Risks

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is set to be a bold continuation of its predecessor, and that’s by design. Warhorse Studios aims to create a historical sequel that stands alongside other unique titles crafted without the pressure to cater to every player demographic.

In a conversation with an outlet, Martin Klima, co-founder of Warhorse Studios and executive producer of the game, reflected on how earlier games like Morrowind and Oblivion emerged during a time when development teams were smaller and budgets were more manageable. This environment allowed developers to take creative risks without the constant worry of financial repercussions, leading to games that were less forgiving and not designed to fit a universal mold.

Klima’s perspective is echoed by Viktor Bocan, the design director for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, who is a fan of the Soulslike genre. Bocan aims to respect and trust players, similar to how FromSoftware engages its audience in its enigmatic RPGs.

Klima highlights that games like Elden Ring are filled with dungeons, secret bosses, and hidden challenges that players discover on their own, without explicit guidance. He believes this lack of handholding enhances the player’s sense of discovery and competence. “When you do it yourself, you have an amazing feeling of discovery and an amazing feeling of competence by doing so,” Klima explains. “We want to give players that same experience of feeling smart and capable as they navigate the world.”

In a thought-provoking statement, the lead developer mentioned that while AI could potentially threaten humanity and disrupt major publishers, he welcomes the idea of using AI to help create an epic game in a year with a smaller team, reminiscent of the development practices of the past.