Kingdom Come Salvation: Embracer Targets 2028 Release for Next RPG

Warhorse Studios' highly anticipated medieval RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, is set to receive a follow-up sooner than many expected. Publisher Embracer Group recently revealed in an investor presentation that the next game in the franchise, potentially named "Kingdom Come Salvation" based on trademark filings, is targeted for release within fiscal year 2027/2028. This timeframe, spanning April 2027 to March 2028, places the game potentially just 18 months away, assuming no delays.

The accelerated release schedule suggests that "Kingdom Come Salvation" might leverage existing technology and development pipelines established for its predecessor. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, released in 2025, was praised for its polished performance on PC, eschewing common engines like Unreal for CryEngine to maximize its current-generation rendering capabilities. This focus on optimizing existing tech rather than pushing bleeding-edge next-generation features like virtualised geometry or path tracing was a key factor in its smooth launch.

Advancing the Visual Fidelity

Given the projected release window, fans and analysts are speculating about the technical advancements that could be integrated into "Kingdom Come Salvation." The developers at Warhorse Studios may aim to enhance the game's visual fidelity and performance further, especially considering the potential for cross-generation releases on more powerful PCs and future consoles like the PlayStation 6. While Deliverance 2 offered impressive results with its SVOGI-based ray-traced indirect lighting and robust open-world performance, there remains room for improvement.

Areas that could benefit from technical upgrades include plant physics and animations, which in the previous title sometimes ran at a lower frame rate than the rest of the game world for performance reasons. An "ultra" setting for PC players with high-end hardware could unlock more fluid animations and complex environmental interactions. Similarly, water rendering and reflections could be made more sophisticated. The game's depiction of Bohemian lakes and streams, while atmospheric, could gain significant realism through advanced animation and rendering techniques. This would further immerse players in the richly detailed world that Warhorse Studios is known for.

Furthermore, the increased processing power of upcoming hardware could allow for more precise reflections and lighting. Options for per-pixel ray-traced global illumination (RTGI) or hardware-accelerated ray-traced reflections could take full advantage of modern GPU capabilities, offering a visual leap from Deliverance 2. Such advancements would not only enhance the game's aesthetic appeal but also deepen the player's connection to the meticulously crafted historical setting.

The possibility of "Kingdom Come Salvation" utilizing technologies akin to Nanite, a virtualised geometry system that eliminates pop-in and enhances detail, is also a point of discussion. Improved support for modern upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR, along with frame generation techniques, could also lead to smoother gameplay across a wider range of hardware configurations. These innovations, if implemented, would signify a significant step forward in the technical execution of the Kingdom Come series, ensuring it remains a benchmark for immersive, historically-accurate role-playing experiences.

The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance, released in 2015, set a high bar for historical accuracy and immersive gameplay. Its sequel, Deliverance 2, released in 2025, built upon that foundation with enhanced graphics and expanded gameplay mechanics. The prospect of a new title, "Kingdom Come Salvation," arriving by 2028 suggests a commitment from Embracer Group and Warhorse Studios to continue delivering high-quality experiences in this niche but beloved genre. The development choices will be closely watched by fans eager for another journey into the rich and challenging world of medieval Bohemia.