Overview
- The development process for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 benefited from optimizing the title for the Xbox Series S, which has lower hardware specifications.
- Initially, Warhorse Studios indicated that the console’s limitations restricted the game’s scope.
- The sequel experienced impressive sales, surpassing one million units on its launch day and is set for ongoing support with both free updates and paid downloadable content (DLC).
In a fascinating turn of events, Warhorse Studios recently addressed the debates surrounding the Xbox Series S during an interview focused on their latest release, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The studio’s latest comments highlight a shift in perspective, attributing positive outcomes to developing the game for the Series S due to its modest hardware capabilities, which helped streamline the development process.
Insights from Warhorse on Developing for the Xbox Series S
Available since earlier this month, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 quickly became a commercial success, selling over one million copies within the first day alone, marking a profitable launch for the developers, Warhorse Studios, and publisher Deep Silver. Set against the backdrop of 15th century Bohemia, this medieval RPG captivates players with its commitment to historical accuracy.
In a discussion on the Iron Lords podcast, Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, Warhorse Studios’ global PR manager, fondly referred to as Sir Tobi, shed light on the advantages of targeting the Xbox Series S. He noted, “The optimizations for the Xbox Series S helped greatly the other platforms as well.”This approach necessitated strategic programming choices due to the Series S being less powerful compared to its counterparts, the Series X and PlayStation 5, prompting the developers to prioritize memory-saving techniques. Consequently, many optimizations were transferable to other gaming platforms, showcasing a visionary development strategy.
These insights resonate with the sentiments previously shared by Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, who advocated for the value of parity among the consoles, emphasizing how catering to the Series S results in a smoother gaming experience across various platforms.
This updated perspective contrasts with earlier statements from Warhorse Studios, where producer Martin Klíma indicated that the Series S’s limitations resulted in only a modest growth of around 25% in the game’s size compared to its predecessor. The console’s 10 GB of RAM was perceived to impose restrictions on the game’s development.
Following a successful launch, Warhorse Studios is committed to providing continuous support for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Recently, they unveiled a roadmap outlining future content, including free updates—such as an upcoming Hardcore Mode—and three segments of paid DLC, ensuring both fresh gameplay and ongoing engagement with their player community.
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