Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is twice as big, introduces firearms and is coming this year

Warhorse Studios has finally unveiled what it admits is probably «the most public secret in the gaming industry», Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The medieval RPG is a direct continuation of the 2018 game, once again following peasant-turned-knight Henry, accompanied by his posh mate, Hans, as they navigate a civil war in 15th century Bohemia. 

The first game was a welcome respite from ostentatious, magic-filled fantasy RPGs. Its tale of knights and intrigue was grounded in medieval history, bolstered by a charismatic protagonist, long jaunts through the Bohemian countryside and tricky first-person duels. Between its adherence to realistic physics and the importance of positioning and the direction of your attacks, it proved to be challenging to master, but incredibly reactive and, most importantly, satisfying when you nailed a strike and took down an enemy knight. 

This first-person combat system is, unsurprisingly, returning, and from the looks of things seems to be as pleasingly brutal and complex as ever. «We want you to feel the sword in your hand,» says Viktor Bocan, design and combat director. «We want you to feel threatened by the enemies on the battlefield. We want you to fight for your life.» 

Thanks to some new additions, ranged combat is also getting a bit more love. One of Kingdom Come: Deliverance's anachronisms was the absence of crossbows and early firearms, but this has been rectified for the sequel. Now you're going to be able to pummel your enemies with lead and bolts. Judging by the firearm clip in the reveal trailer, they're going to be pretty devastating. But given Warhorse's sensibilities when it comes to realism and the depth of KCD's simulation, they're probably going to be incredibly slow and more than a bit fiddly. You're still going to have to get up close with your swords and blunt melee weapons.

When Warhorse started work on the first game, it was an 11-person studio, making it an impressive—if buggy—feat. «Now it's 250 people working very