Warhorse Studios has been capturing attention with “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2,” a game that’s getting rave reviews and impressively high player counts. One key to its success? The developers’ focus on optimizing it for lower-end systems, particularly the Xbox Series S, leading to smoother gameplay across all platforms.
According to Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, the studio’s PR manager, this strategic focus allowed them to enhance the game’s performance even on more powerful systems. This insight was shared during an appearance on the Iron Lords Podcast, where Stolz-Zwilling highlighted how the Xbox Series S proved to be a catalyst for overall performance improvements.
Interestingly, the game runs on CryEngine, a choice that initially seemed risky due to its history of demanding performance on less powerful systems. However, Warhorse Studios co-founder Daniel Vavra had previously expressed concerns with other engines, noting that while versatile, open-world games often struggled on Unreal Engine. This decision appears to have paid off, especially given the expansive maps in “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.”
On the more robust Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles, the game offers two modes: a fidelity mode delivering graphics at 30fps in 1440p, and a performance mode that increases frame rates to 60fps at 1080p. The PS5 Pro takes it up a notch, maintaining 60fps at 1296p with PSSR upscaling for a sharper appearance. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S, despite less powerful hardware, runs efficiently at 30fps and 1080p.
Instead of compromising quality across all platforms, optimizations made for the Series S have unexpectedly benefitted PCs and more advanced consoles too. PC gamers are familiar with techniques like reducing reflection and shadow detail to boost frame rates, and it seems Warhorse’s approach with CryEngine pays off in this way. The slight simplification in lighting does wonders for performance, yet the game’s maps remain vibrant and immersive.
In contrast to many recent releases that struggle with visual stability, often requiring patches, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2” stands out by delivering a smooth experience for Xbox Series S users and those with less powerful PCs. By focusing on lower-end systems, the developers ensured broader accessibility and performance improvements that ripple across all platforms.
