The creators of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 deliberately braced for negative feedback during early playtests, driven by a commitment to making their historical RPG experience uncompromisingly harsh from the very start.
In a recent interview, Warhorse Lead Designer Prokop Jirsa shared:
We witnessed playtests where users would start the game, stumble into errors, find themselves immediately imprisoned, and then vent their frustration in reviews. We had the conviction to say, “Yes, that is exactly the experience we intend to provide.”
According to Jirsa, the team was adamant that the protagonist should begin as a vulnerable underdog:
We want the player to feel remarkably feeble at the start, as it makes the subsequent sense of progression and mastery feel truly earned and authentic.
Jirsa admitted that this design philosophy felt “daunting,” as it challenged the modern trend of instant gratification prevalent in the gaming industry.
However, the success of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance helped alleviate these concerns. Jirsa noted that modern audiences are increasingly receptive to complex, demanding titles, citing the enduring popularity of the Dark Souls series and Elden Ring.
Original concepts hold massive potential if they are given the space to be fully realized and polished.
Source: iXBT.games