Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn’t being strict with history – “This is not an educational product”

As a dedicated gamer with a passion for historical accuracy and immersive experiences, I was thrilled to attend the KCD2 press event in the heart of Kuttenberg, Czechia. The town, steeped in history and serving as a backdrop for large parts of the game, was faithfully recreated by the developers, with the support of local authorities and historians.


At the KCD2 press gathering held in the Czech Republic, attendees were given an escorted exploration through Kuttenberg, a charming village near Prague that serves as a significant backdrop for much of the eagerly awaited video game.

As a passionate movie buff, I’d say: In this game, we step back into the past, to the early 1400s. But don’t let the time fool you; the developers have pulled out all stops to create an authentic townscape. They’ve had backing from local authorities, priests, and a host of history enthusiasts, striving to depict what this place might have truly looked like centuries ago.

Considering all these points, it’s intriguing to learn that the developers don’t see historical accuracy as the only or final objective for this project.

In the video interview located at the top of this page, TopMob Gaming posed questions to developer Tobias Stolz-Zwilling regarding the thought process behind his methodology.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn’t being strict with history – “This is not an educational product”

In simpler terms, Stolz-Zwilling, the global PR manager for Warhorse Studios, responded by saying, “Our primary goal is to create an enjoyable video game experience, rather than a learning tool sold to educational institutions.”

“The described title pertains to a medieval-themed game, set during the knightly era. In essence, this forms the foundation of the game. Any additional elements or details are simply added advantages for those eager to explore more.”

One way to rephrase the given text is: “We strive to make it seem genuine and true-to-life. It’s an advantage when the experience feels so engaging. An additional benefit is that instead of repetitive button pressing, you get to engage in combat based on actual historical martial arts or the most accurate representation we could create within a video game.”

 

Stolz-Zwilling elaborated, “Our primary approach is to ensure a balance between entertainment and authenticity. We didn’t abandon the entertaining aspect for the sake of authenticity, but neither did we fabricate elements to make it more enjoyable.”

“Given the option, we’d prefer to choose a more amusing path, avoiding absurdity, not creating new things, and sticking with what could reasonably have existed during the Middle Ages.”

He gave an illustration by saying, “I can give you numerous instances, yet let me offer a simple one – armor.”

If an armor appears exceptionally stylish to us, yet it was developed decades afterwards, it’s as if we might say, “Well, alright. Perhaps they were pioneers.”

“Alternatively, since this armor is a century old, it might have been passed down through generations, perhaps belonging to his grandfather or another relative.”

“You know what I mean, it’s the small details. However, I stand firm in my belief that this game offers the most authentic representation of medieval Bohemia, or indeed, medieval Europe.”

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn’t being strict with history – “This is not an educational product”

Through the course of the gathering, it was revealed that this thought process led to a game offering ample room for exploration and enjoyment. Remarkably, it maintains a connection with actual locations you can physically travel to – an aspect that the Kuttenberg tourism board will undoubtedly find appealing!

As we continued our town tour, Stolz-Zwilling gestured towards an unremarkable wall nearby. He remarked something like: “Do you recall in the game where you hung a sword on a wall? That very wall!”

All at once, a murmur of agreement rose from the gathering of reporters. The pieces fell neatly into place.

The hanging of the sword was a memorable moment in a mission about rival fencing experts.

The street with the wall was striking location, one of the unmissable centrepieces of a quest that you could approach in a number of different ways.

People looked around, remembering the layout of the street in the video game version of Kuttenberg.

It was evident from their eyes that everything aligned perfectly – the past, the present, and the enjoyment derived from the game – and it was truly an exciting experience.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launches 11th February 2025 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Why not wishlist the game on Steam, visit the official website, or order your copy from Amazon?

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2024-08-21 10:04