Deliverance 2 design director responds to players who think the game is too difficult

Medieval RPG from Warhorse Studios Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Some audience members found it “too difficult”, but this was not necessarily due to the difficulties of traditional design as much as its uncompromising approach to realism and authenticity. As with most games, the more time players invest, the more skilled they and Henry become. KCD2become the protagonist of As a result, the game gets easier over time, but it has more to do with the player's experience than an XP or equipment-based progression system. But the problem is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 It's so challenging to begin with that some players don't want to put in the effort to push that challenge threshold. However, without it, the integrity of the game may be compromised.

This is a reality that developer Warhorse is fully aware of. Because we didn't set out to make a game that could be enjoyed for its simplicity, but appreciated and wondered about for its authenticity. In that sense, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 It is safe in itself and what you want, regardless of the criticism that it is too difficult from a certain point of view. In a recent interview with GameRant, design director Viktor Bocan confirmed that sentiment with an unvarnished admission. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 It's simply not for everyone.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's design director knows it's not for everyone.

When starting a new game Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2Players are faced with a slow and arduous process that essentially amounts to relearning how to play the game. Because medieval RPGs play differently than others, old habits that players have are forced to change, or they might want to quit playing the game altogether.

Jumping into battle too quickly or pressing the attack button repeatedly can have a negative impact on: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2Because Henry is ordinary, he has no special powers or secret weapons that can save him from danger. Ultimately, this comes down to the game's philosophy of what makes a good RPG, which, according to Bocan, is an unprecedented freedom. But the problem is that achieving that level of freedom requires the protagonist to be a blank canvas. Ultimately, this means making Henry as normal as possible, which unintentionally makes the experience more difficult than players might be used to.

But rather than apologizing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's unconventional gameplay and proven high skill curve among some players, Bocan doubled down on the design in our interview with him, making an increasingly rare statement at a time when player complaints are at an all-time high. The design director said:

“The battle is very hard on forums or on social media and someone else will come right away and say, “You need training. If the battle is difficult, you need to level up. If you find some of the people on the map here and train with them, you will get better.” And they said, “What? I train in real life. This is a game. I want to have fun. I don't want to train in games. They don't need to learn something from the game.” I get it. They don't want that. They don't have time for that. But obviously this isn't the game for them. Or maybe combat isn't for them.”

Whether he realizes it or not, Bocan has pointed out one of the most glaring complexities of the modern gaming industry and the gamers who invest in it. In fact, players often approach games with the expectation that challenge should be about convenience, friction should be optional, and fun should be an objective characteristic. But the following games Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Make resistance your overall point rather than an obstacle to overcome.

Essentially, this asks players to meet where they are, not where they want to be. Because changing that relationship fundamentally changes the experience the experience is trying to express. At a certain point, accommodating all preferences is no longer accessible and begins to erode. Games that know what they have to lose to stay honest may frustrate some audiences, but they also preserve the very identity that gives them meaning in the first place.

Bocan would go on to call the idea: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 It's so hard to have a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the game. In short, it's really too hard for those who don't accept the idea that freedom always comes at the cost of hard work. in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2It looks like he's learning a thing or two from the blank canvas that is Henry. Even if he gets a few scrapes and bruises along the way. Bokan continued:

“In our game, you have to learn. You have to train yourself as a player, you have to train your character. Henry has to learn too, so he has to train with some sword masters and level up his skills and skills. That's an important part of the game for us, because we wanted to bring you this character who doesn't know anything in the beginning, and you have to train and teach him. But still, we're like, “I paid for this game. I want to become a swordsman. I don't want to pay money to train to be a swordsman.” But this is a fundamental misunderstanding. We've created a game where you can be whoever you want, but you have to give something to get something.”

It all comes down to one simple truth. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Ultimately, it is a game built on reciprocity. It offers the player a tremendous amount of freedom, but expects rewards in the form of patience, humility, and a willingness to learn within the system, rather than trying to circumvent the system with fantastic heroic acts. For some people, such exchanges can be incredibly rewarding because progress is made through understanding rather than shortcuts. For others, it may feel like an unnecessary burden. Warhorse has bridged this divide, drawing a clear line between games that try to please everyone and games that are dedicated to themselves.

released

February 4, 2025

ESRB

Ages 17+ / Alcohol, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language, intense violence, partial nudity

developer

Warhorse Studio