Complete History of Kingdom Come: Deliverance

When Kingdom Come: Deliverance entered the scene, it boldly abandoned the dragons and magic typical of RPGs to double down on raw, uncompromising 15th-century historical realism. Developed by Warhorse Studios, the journey from an unproven pitch to a multi-million-copy success story is a masterclass in independent game development.

For gamers wanting zero fluff, here is the complete, fact-driven timeline of how Henry of Skalitz made his mark on gaming history.

Key Takeaways (2026)

• July 2011: Warhorse Studios is founded in Prague by Daniel Vávra and Martin Klíma.
• January 2014: A highly successful Kickstarter campaign raises £1.1 million, proving market demand.
• February 13, 2018: The game officially launches globally on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
• 2018 - 2019: Major DLCs release, culminating in the Royal Edition.
• February 2019: Warhorse Studios is acquired by Koch Media (now Plaion) for €42.8 million.
• February 2025: The massive sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, launches and sells over 2 million copies in two weeks.
• February 2026: A surprise next-gen update (Patch 1.9.7) brings 60 FPS and 4K upscaling to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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The Birth of Warhorse Studios (2011)

The story begins in 2009 when Daniel Vávra left 2K Czech. Wanting to create a historically accurate RPG set in his native Bohemia, he struggled to find publishers willing to take a risk on a game without fantasy elements.

In 2011, Vávra partnered with Martin Klíma to found Warhorse Studios. After several failed pitches to traditional investors, a successful prototype funded by Czech billionaire Zdeněk Bakala finally got the project off the ground.

The Kickstarter Phenomenon (2014)

By early 2014, Warhorse needed to prove to their investors that an audience existed for a hardcore, magic-free medieval RPG. They turned to Kickstarter on January 22, 2014, with a goal of £300,000.

Gamers overwhelmingly responded. Within a month, the campaign amassed over £1.1 million from more than 35,000 backers. This critical success secured the remaining budget needed for full-scale development.

Development & 2018 Launch

Developing the game on CryEngine proved both visually rewarding and technically challenging. Warhorse built intricate systems for historically accurate sword fighting, multilayered armor mechanics, and a living world where NPCs adhered to strict daily routines.

Published in partnership with Deep Silver, the game officially launched on February 13, 2018. While praised for its stellar narrative, deeply immersive world, and realistic combat, the initial release was heavily critiqued for technical bugs and optimization issues. Warhorse spent the following months patching the game, polishing the rough edges, and stabilizing performance.

Expansions, Sequels & Next-Gen Revival (2019 - 2026)

Post-launch, Warhorse released a roadmap of expansions that deepened the lore and mechanics, including From the Ashes, The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon, Band of Bastards, and A Woman's Lot. These were later bundled into the 2019 Royal Edition.

The success of the franchise cemented Warhorse Studios as a powerhouse developer, leading to their acquisition by Koch Media (Plaion) in 2019. The game continued to break milestones, achieving over 6 million copies sold by 2024 and receiving an ambitious Nintendo Switch port. This set the perfect stage for the highly anticipated sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, which launched in February 2025 to critical acclaim and massive day-one sales, bringing Henry's revenge story to its epic conclusion.

The momentum did not stop with the sequel. On February 13, 2026, Warhorse shadow-dropped a massive, free next-gen update (Patch 1.9.7) for the original game. Arriving on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, the update delivered native 1440p resolution upscaled to 4K, a smooth 60 FPS, cross-gen save transfers, and new localized voice-overs, reinvigorating the 2018 classic for current-generation hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kingdom Come: Deliverance originally released?

The game was officially released on February 13, 2018, for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Who developed Kingdom Come: Deliverance?

The game was developed by Warhorse Studios, a Czech development team founded by Daniel Vávra and Martin Klíma.

Is there a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance?

Yes, Warhorse Studios released a free next-gen update (Patch 1.9.7) in February 2026, bringing native 1440p resolution, 60 FPS, and cross-gen save transfers to current-generation consoles.

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