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 PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. Recent tests reveal a compelling balance between visual fidelity and frame rates, showcasing the power of CryEngine.

CryEngine: Photorealism Meets Performance

KCD2 leverages the CryEngine, a choice driven by the developer's familiarity and its inherent performance focus. While employing a more traditional rendering approach compared to engines like Unreal Engine (meaning fewer shaders and simpler lighting), CryEngine's physically-based materials and Sparse Voxel Octree Global Illumination (SVOGI) deliver stunning photorealism. Eurogamer highlights SVOGI's role in realistically simulating indirect light bounces, enhancing the visual impact of lighting effects.

Console Performance Modes: Fidelity vs. Performance

PS5 and Xbox Series X offer two modes: a 30fps fidelity mode at 1440p and a 60fps performance mode at 1080p. Xbox Series S is limited to the fidelity mode. The PS5 Pro, however, boasts a single 60fps mode at 1296p, upscaled to 4K using PSSR. Fidelity mode enhances visuals with increased foliage detail and improved shadow casting, while the PS5 Pro further refines these aspects, resulting in superior image quality and ambient occlusion.

PC: Customizable Graphics and Upscaling

PC players enjoy complete control over their KCD2 experience. Upscaling options are limited to FSR and DLSS, with no XeSS or frame generation features. Despite CryEngine's performance optimization, high-end settings at 4K will still demand significant GPU power. Five quality presets (low, medium, high, ultra, and experimental) allow for easy customization to match individual system capabilities. Warhorse Studios has also provided a comprehensive system requirements guide to help players prepare.

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 further details.