Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) promises strong performance across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, showcasing adaptability across various settings. This article delves into KCD2's performance characteristics on different systems and customizable options.
KCD2's Cross-Platform Performance
CryEngine's Photorealistic Prowess
Tests and reports indicate impressive performance for KCD2. PlayStation and Xbox consoles deliver smooth gameplay at both 30fps and 60fps, with the PS5 Pro leveraging its capabilities for enhanced visuals. KCD2's photorealism is noteworthy, a testament to the game's use of CryTek's CryEngine, a less common choice in modern game development.
Warhorse Studios' continued use of CryEngine, following KCD1, stems from the team's expertise with the engine, enabling them to refine and expand its features for the sequel. PC Gamer highlights CryEngine's unique approach: old-school rendering techniques prioritize performance over complex shaders and lighting effects.
Despite this, KCD2 achieves photorealism through physically based materials. Eurogamer points to CryEngine's Sparse Voxel Octree Global Illumination (SVOGI) as a key factor, creating realistic indirect lighting effects, enhancing the visual impact of light sources and reflections.
Console Options: Fidelity vs. Performance
PS5 and Xbox Series X offer two modes: a 30fps fidelity mode at 1440p and a 60fps performance mode at 1080p. Xbox Series S is limited to the fidelity mode. Conversely, the PS5 Pro runs at a native 60fps at 1296p, upscaled to 4K using PSSR.
The fidelity mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X enhances visuals with increased foliage detail and improved shadow rendering, particularly beneficial for outdoor scenes and ambient occlusion. The PS5 Pro further refines these aspects, delivering sharper visuals, enhanced ambient occlusion, improved object quality, and superior overall image quality.
PC Upscaling: Player Choice
True to PC tradition, KCD2 offers optional upscaling. PC Gamer notes the limited options: FSR and DLSS for lower-resolution rendering. XeSS, sharpening tools, and frame generation are absent.
Despite CryEngine's performance focus, running KCD2 at 4K with maximum settings will demand significant GPU power. However, the game's scalability is a strength, providing five quality presets (low, medium, high, ultra, and experimental) to optimize performance for diverse PC configurations.
A comprehensive guide assists players in preparing their systems, detailing CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage requirements.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launches February 4, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Visit our dedicated KCD2 page for more details.
