Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Boasts Impressive Performance on Consoles

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is poised to deliver a strong performance across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, showcasing impressive adaptability across various settings. Read on to discover how KCD2 performs on each platform and the customization options available to players.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: A Cross-Platform Performance Deep Dive

Photorealism Powered by CryEngine

Early tests and reports paint a positive picture of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's (KCD2) performance. PlayStation and Xbox consoles smoothly handle both 30fps and 60fps options, with the PS5 Pro leveraging its capabilities for enhanced graphical fidelity. KCD2's unique photorealistic rendering, a feat achieved using CryTek's CryEngine, sets it apart from many contemporary titles.

KCD2's continued use of CryEngine, following its predecessor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 1 (KCD1), allows Warhorse Studios to leverage their existing expertise and further refine the engine's capabilities for the sequel. PC Gamer highlights CryEngine's distinct approach, employing old-school rendering techniques—emphasizing performance through streamlined shaders and basic lighting—while still achieving remarkable visual fidelity.

This photorealism is further enhanced by KCD2's utilization of physically based materials. Eurogamer notes the effectiveness of CryEngine's sparse voxel octree global illumination (SVOGI) in creating realistic indirect lighting effects, convincingly simulating light bounces from torches, reflections on metal surfaces, and other interactive lighting elements.

PlayStation and Xbox Console Options: Fidelity vs. Performance

PS5 and Xbox Series X offer two modes: a fidelity mode (30fps at 1440p) and a performance mode (60fps at 1080p). Xbox Series S players will find only the fidelity mode available. Conversely, the PS5 Pro offers a single, high-performance mode running at 60fps at 1296p, upscaled to 4K using PSSR.

The fidelity mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X enhances visual details, particularly in outdoor environments, with increased foliage density and improved shadow casting. This results in richer ambient occlusion. The PS5 Pro elevates the visual experience even further, building upon the fidelity mode's improvements with sharper imagery, enhanced ambient occlusion, superior object quality, and overall superior image clarity.

PC: Upscaling and Customizable Settings

True to PC gaming tradition, KCD2 offers extensive customization options, making upscaling entirely optional. PC Gamer notes the limited upscaling choices, with only FSR and DLSS available for rendering at lower resolutions. XeSS for Intel cards, sharpening options, and frame generation are absent.

Despite CryEngine's performance focus, running KCD2 at 4K with maximum settings will still demand considerable GPU power. However, the game's highly scalable graphics settings, offering five presets (low, medium, high, ultra, and experimental), ensure players can tailor the experience to their specific hardware capabilities.

KCD2 provides a comprehensive guide to help players prepare their systems, detailing CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage requirements, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.

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