Warhorse Studios has unveiled its latest creation, "Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2" (KCD 2), marking a significant milestone in the gaming industry. The sequel, set in 15th Century Bohemia, follows the captivating journey of Henry of Skalitz and Sir Hans Capon. Released last week, KCD 2 quickly captured the attention of gamers worldwide, selling one million copies within just 24 hours of its launch. The game's developers dedicated nearly a decade to its creation, operating under strict non-disclosure agreements for three of those years.
The ambitious project boasts the longest single video game script ever written, with over three million words. This monumental script forms the backbone of a game that offers players a unique narrative experience, where stories unfold with subtle variations each time they are played. The setting in historical Bohemia adds an authentic backdrop, immersing players in a world meticulously crafted by Warhorse Studios, based in Prague, Czech Republic.
Under the leadership of Daniel Vávra, the game's director, Warhorse Studios navigated both creative and critical challenges. Vávra, known for his active presence on social media, often engages directly with critics. He staunchly defended the original "Kingdom Come: Deliverance" (KCD) against criticisms regarding diversity, emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy in their storytelling.
Tom McKay and Luke Dale, the actors portraying the central characters, Henry and Hans Capon respectively, dedicated hundreds of hours to bringing their roles to life. McKay described the experience as akin to working for a top-secret organization, highlighting the stringent secrecy surrounding the project.
"It was almost like working for GCHQ or something," McKay shared. "You couldn't talk to anyone about it and people in the studio couldn't even talk to their partners in some cases about what they were doing."
The development process required repeated trips to Prague and extensive time in the studio, where they navigated complex decision-making paths inherent to their characters' narratives.
"You would kind of go down one channel of a decision and then come halfway back up and go down another one and then maybe all the way back up to the beginning and back down," McKay explained. "And that's not an acting challenge that you ever would have in TV or film."
Luke Dale emphasized the collaborative environment fostered by Vávra's visionary leadership.
"And Daniel is really good at helping us to do that because it's his brainchild and he knows exactly what he wants every time," Dale noted.
Despite facing early criticisms similar to its predecessor, KCD 2 has found its footing among a passionate fanbase. Critics who pointed out issues related to diversity were addressed by Vávra and company, who maintained that such complaints stem from a minority not representative of true gaming enthusiasts.
"I think to be honest with you, the people that are true big fans of gaming and this game aren't bothered about that sort of stuff," Dale stated. "It seems to be people that are really politically involved and they care very much about politics and not gaming and they've just used this as a weapon, but they're not necessarily into gaming."
Tom McKay echoed similar sentiments regarding the disparity between online criticism and real-world reception.
"It's a really good barometer of the distortion between online interaction and real world interaction," McKay observed. "We did nine hours and it didn't come up once."
Nonetheless, Warhorse Studios remains focused on delivering an immersive historical experience that stays true to their vision. The developers' unwavering commitment to storytelling accuracy and depth is evident throughout KCD 2, providing players with an engaging adventure across medieval Europe.
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