Czech developer Warhorse Studios is definitely working on a new open-world role-playing game in the Kingdom Come universe, which was announced a few days ago.
PR chief Tobias Stolz-Zwilling admitted in a Community stream All doubts about the nature of the upcoming project were dispelled, as so far only one project in the same universe had been mentioned.
The confusion was correspondingly great when Embracer's subsidiary Warhorse announced a new Kingdom Come "adventure" a few days ago. announcedMany fans expected a board game, a series, or a light comic spin-off after the release of "Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2" in February of last year.
However, the studio is pursuing two paths simultaneously, developing two massive video game projects. In addition to the hotly debated open-world role-playing game set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, the next Kingdom Come will be a fully-fledged open-world RPG.
New management and a radical name change?
Behind the scenes, the studio is undergoing a complete reorganization. Prokop Jirsa, previously a designer on "Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2," is now taking over as Creative Lead for the historical RPG franchise. Studio co-founder Daniel Vávra is temporarily leaving game development to focus entirely on the planned film or television adaptation. Meanwhile, the Lord of the Rings team will be led by design veteran Viktor Bocan.
The most striking change is the omission of the word "Deliverance" from the official announcement. This isn't a marketing mistake. The studio is clearly indicating that we can't expect a direct sequel to Part 2. Henry's story has been told, increasing the likelihood of a spin-off with a completely new protagonist.
Embracer could set the release date for the new Kingdom Come RPG for the next fiscal year if recent indications prove correct. If all goes well, the game will be released between April 2027 and March 2028. That's incredibly close.
Two massive open-world RPGs from a relatively small studio, released just a few years apart, sound like a brutal crunch trap. The fact that Henry's story is over is painful, but it gives the franchise the necessary breath of fresh air for new regions and eras. If Warhorse sticks to its usual hardcore RPG formula, this will be a blast.
What do you think about Henry's departure? Would you prefer to stay in the same century, or should Warhorse completely change the setting? Let me know in the comments!
Whatever comes next, as long as it's on the same level, I'm already looking forward to it. I had so much fun with KCD 1 and 2 and I'm eagerly anticipating it – no matter what it is.