Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: A Powerful Sequel, But Does CRYENGINE Still Hold Up?
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, the long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed medieval RPG, has burst onto the scene, achieving a historic milestone by selling a million copies within just 24 hours. This undeniable success speaks volumes about the enduring popularity of Warhorse Studios’ immersive historical setting and captivating gameplay. But how does this ambitious sequel perform on modern hardware, and what does its dependence on the aging CRYENGINE tell us about the current state of game development?
Tech reviewers have been scrutinizing the game’s performance, paying particular attention to its utilization of upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR. “It’s crucial to test the game both with and without upscaling,” reports tech site TPU, “as this reveals how it handles different resolutions and graphical fidelity levels.”
The results offer a somewhat mixed picture. While the game is playable across a range of hardware configurations, AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 series cards fall behind their NVIDIA GeForce counterparts. “The RX 7900 XTX, for instance, sometimes lags behind the RTX 4070 Ti or the RTX 4080 even without upscaling,” observes TPU. “With upscaling enabled, the gap widens further, placing it below the RTX 4070 SUPER and the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER.”
This discrepancy isn’t entirely surprising. CRYENGINE, while a powerful tool, has undoubtedly fallen behind in recent years. Compared to newer engines, it lacks features like ray tracing and frame generation, which are now standard in many modern titles. “The engine’s reliance on rasterization for lighting and reflections means it lacks the visual fidelity of newer engines,” explains TPU. “This is particularly noticeable at higher resolutions.”
The Legacy of CRYENGINE: Traversing Two Paths
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s performance on different hardware highlights a larger trend in the gaming industry: the growing divide between engine architectures and the evolving expectations of modern gamers.
CRYENGINE, despite its age, remains a robust engine capable of delivering impressive visuals and complex gameplay. However, its reliance on rasterization, a technique that has been the industry standard for decades, is increasingly showing its limitations. New engines like Unreal Engine 5 and Unity are embracing advanced rendering techniques like real-time ray tracing and global illumination, resulting in significantly more realistic and immersive visuals.
This doesn’t mean CRYENGINE is obsolete. Its strengths lie in its stability, performance on older hardware, and its ability to handle large, complex worlds. But for developers aiming to push the boundaries of visual fidelity and gameplay innovation, newer engines offer a more compelling platform.
Practical Takeaways for Gamers
So what does this mean for gamers?
- Consider your hardware: If you’re aiming for the best visual experience, a newer graphics card with ray tracing support is essential. However, if you’re on a budget or have an older system, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is still enjoyable.
- Embrace upscaling: DLSS and FSR can significantly improve performance and visual quality, especially at higher resolutions. If your graphics card doesn’t support ray tracing, these technologies can help bridge the gap.
- Don’t judge a game by its engine: Engine technology is just one aspect of a game’s quality. A compelling story, immersive world, and engaging gameplay can elevate a game regardless of the underlying engine.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a testament to the enduring appeal of historical RPGs and the power of immersive storytelling. While relying on an older engine may raise some eyebrows, the game ultimately delivers a satisfying experience for players across a range of hardware capabilities.