Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Boasts Impressive Performance on Consoles

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

Warhorse Studios' highly anticipated sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2), promises impressive performance across all platforms, from PlayStation and Xbox consoles to PC. Let's examine the performance details revealed through various tests and reports.

CryEngine: Photorealism Meets Performance

KCD2 leverages the CryEngine, a choice driven by the developer's familiarity, enabling them to refine and expand upon its capabilities. Unlike some modern engines, CryEngine prioritizes performance through a more traditional rendering approach, emphasizing efficient shaders and lighting. However, this doesn't compromise visual fidelity. The game's photorealism stems from its use of physically based materials and CryEngine's SVOGI (sparse voxel octree global illumination), which realistically simulates indirect lighting effects, enhancing the realism of light sources and reflections.

Console Performance Modes

PS5 and Xbox Series X offer two modes: a fidelity mode (30fps at 1440p) prioritizing visual detail, and a performance mode (60fps at 1080p) focusing on smoother gameplay. Xbox Series S exclusively features the fidelity mode. The PS5 Pro boasts a single 60fps mode at 1296p, upscaled to 4K using PSSR. Fidelity mode enhances visual elements like foliage and shadows, while the PS5 Pro further refines these aspects, adding sharper visuals and improved ambient occlusion.

PC Performance and Scalability

PC players enjoy full control over upscaling, with options limited to FSR and DLSS. While CryEngine's efficiency is a boon, running KCD2 at 4K with maximum settings will still demand significant GPU power. Fortunately, the game offers five quality presets (low, medium, high, ultra, and experimental), allowing for optimal customization based on individual system capabilities. Warhorse Studios has also released a comprehensive guide to help players assess their system specifications and prepare for optimal gameplay.

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