Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Delivers on Performance

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) promises strong performance across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, showcasing impressive adaptability across various settings. This article delves into KCD2's performance capabilities on each platform.

KCD2's Cross-Platform Performance

CryEngine's Photorealistic Prowess

Tests and reports indicate excellent performance for KCD2. PlayStation and Xbox consoles deliver smooth gameplay at both 30fps and 60fps, with the PS5 Pro potentially leveraging its advanced capabilities for enhanced visuals. KCD2's photorealism is noteworthy, a testament to the game's use of CryTek's CryEngine.

Warhorse Studios' continued use of CryEngine, following KCD1, leverages their existing expertise. While CryEngine employs older rendering techniques (limited shaders, basic lighting), its focus on performance is evident. This, combined with physically based materials, allows KCD2 to achieve impressive photorealism. Eurogamer highlights CryEngine's SVOGI (sparse voxel octree global illumination) as a key factor in creating realistic indirect lighting effects.

Console Options: Fidelity vs. Performance

PS5 and Xbox Series X offer both fidelity (30fps at 1440p) and performance (60fps at 1080p) modes. Xbox Series S is limited to fidelity mode. The PS5 Pro runs at 60fps at 1296p with 4K upscaling.

Fidelity mode enhances visuals on PS5 and Xbox Series X with improved foliage and shadows, particularly benefiting outdoor scenes and ambient occlusion. The PS5 Pro further refines these features, adding sharper visuals, superior ambient occlusion, and enhanced object detail.

PC: Customizable Upscaling

True to PC tradition, KCD2 offers extensive customization. Upscaling options are limited to FSR and DLSS, rendering from lower resolutions. XeSS, sharpening, and frame generation are absent.

Despite CryEngine's performance orientation, running KCD2 at 4K with maximum settings will demand significant GPU power. However, the game's scalability, with five quality presets (low, medium, high, ultra, experimental), ensures optimal performance across a wide range of PC configurations. A detailed system readiness guide is available to assist players in optimizing their setups.

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 more details.