Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Boasts Impressive Performance on Consoles

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: A Deep Dive into Console and PC Performance

Warhorse Studios' upcoming title, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2), promises impressive performance across various platforms, from consoles to high-end PCs. Recent benchmarks reveal a compelling balance between visual fidelity and frame rates.

CryEngine's Photorealistic Prowess

KCD2 leverages the CryEngine, a choice driven by the developer's familiarity and its inherent performance focus. While employing older rendering techniques compared to engines like Unreal Engine, CryEngine's physically-based materials and SVOGI (sparse voxel octree global illumination) deliver stunning photorealism. This results in realistic lighting effects, convincing light bounces, and detailed material interactions.

Console Performance: Fidelity vs. Performance

PS5 and Xbox Series X offer two modes: a 30fps fidelity mode at 1440p, prioritizing visual detail (increased foliage, improved shadows, and ambient occlusion), and a 60fps performance mode at 1080p. Xbox Series S is limited to the fidelity mode. The PS5 Pro boasts a single 60fps mode at 1296p, upscaled to 4K using PSSR. The PS5 Pro mode further enhances visuals beyond the fidelity mode on standard consoles.

PC Performance: Scalability and Upscaling

PC players enjoy extensive control over graphical settings. Upscaling is optional, with support for FSR and DLSS. However, XeSS, sharpening options, and frame generation are absent. Despite CryEngine's performance optimization, running KCD2 at 4K with maximum settings will demand significant GPU power. Five quality presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra, Experimental) allow for customization to suit diverse hardware configurations. Warhorse Studios provides a comprehensive system requirements guide to assist players in optimizing their setups.

Release Date and Further Information

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launches February 4, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For more details, visit our dedicated Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 page.