The task of authentically recreating 15th century Bohemia for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is one that’s part careful forensic work, and part respectful artistic interpretation. To learn more, we sat down with senior game designer Ondřej Bittner to find out how the team at Warhorse Studios went about crafting an authentically immersive world in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, available today. 

Bittner explains that the team starts with the geographical data, because not a lot has changed when it comes to the formation of hills, valleys and rivers.  

“Then, there are the military maps created in the mid-19th century. They usually have the layout of fairly static villages,” Bittner says. “This was quite a common thing to do in European military history. When you build an army that has hundreds of thousands of soldiers, you need really good maps with individual buildings, logistical points, roads and so on.” 

Once the top-level geography, settlements and architecture of 15th century Bohemia have all been established, the team then turns to the living curators of those buildings that survived to the modern day. 

“You can talk to the people taking care of these castles or churches, and see if they have any material on a particular building,” says Bittner. “Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t! If they don’t, then you have to reconstruct it from more general knowledge about the time.” 

Some aspects of this historical forensic work are trickier to tackle than others. One such example is the clock tower that was once situated in the main square of central city Kuttenberg, but has long since been lost to history. 

“We know there was a tower there, but it burned down,” explains Bittner on researching this particular missing piece. “When you look at woodcuts from the 16th century you can see how the city looked from a hill, but there’s not usually any detail. We have to research how clock towers from that period would have looked, and then reconstruct it.” 

Thankfully, some of the period’s most extraordinary architecture has survived intact into the modern age. Consider the Sedlec Ossuary, for example, the extraordinary chapel decorated with the bones of more than 40,000 people.  

Buildings like these aren’t just eye-catching attractions for tourists and gamers alike, they also provide a rich source of environmental storytelling that helps the team understand the outlook of a long-gone medieval population. Attitudes towards death veered more towards the macabre then, and had a profound influence on art and architecture. 

The natural environments of medieval Europe provide another atmospheric playground for the studio to explore. Near Trosky Castle, the intimidating centerpiece of the sequel’s storyline, lie the Apolena Rocks. This type of sandstone rock formation is a common sight across the Czech Republic, forming maze-like structures associated with all manner of local legends. 

“Most of the landscape of Bohemia – even in the 15th century – is quite inviting,” says Bittner. “I would say it’s pretty mellow but this area immediately feels dangerous, as though bad people are hiding out here. That’s reflected in the music design and all manner of things, and it’s a place that’s allowed us to do something special.” 

While the geography hasn’t changed much over the last 500 years, civilization’s influence on the natural habitat has been sharply felt. Even half a millennium ago, humans were planting forests for the explicit purpose of de-forestation, replacing many of the natural tree and bush formations in the process. 

“Sometimes we do want a clearly defined forest and so we have those areas,” explains Bittner. “Then we have more natural forests based on research about biodiversity and the various plants and flowers that are still here. This usually hasn’t changed.” 

Instead, much of medieval history’s impact on the Bohemian landscape has been buried underground. It’s here in the dumping grounds of medieval Europe that Warhorse has discovered a goldmine of information as it seeks to recreate an authentic representation of 15th century life. 

“You can learn a lot about human civilization if you look in the trash bin!” says Bittner. “Our researchers will go to dump locations and look at what people have been throwing out. Are there a lot of pottery shards here? If so, pottery was probably quite common. The composition of clothing also tells us more about these people.” 

“I won’t go into gruesome details, but the seeds have a certain advantage when it comes to archaeology too, as they’re non-digestible!” 

By combining this sort of painstaking research with a passion for telling stories in a unique period of history, Warhorse has created an authentic and immersive world unlike any other in RPG gaming. It’s a world you’ll be able to experience for yourself when Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on Xbox Series X|S today.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Deep Silver

☆☆☆☆☆
189

★★★★★

$69.99

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Pre-order now to receive the bonus quest, The Lion’s Crest.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a thrilling Action RPG, set amid the chaos of a civil war in 15th Century Bohemia.

You are Henry of Skalitz – an ordinary man doing extraordinary things – caught in a gripping tale of revenge, betrayal and discovery as he embarks on an epic journey, from a humble blacksmith’s forge to the court of Kings, as he searches for purpose in this beautiful but brutal medieval world.

From bustling city streets to lush forests, discover this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure filled with action, thrill and wonder.

A Tale of Love and Revenge
Live life through the eyes and actions of Henry, a young man on a quest to avenge his murdered parents. His story – illustrated with over five hours of stunning cinematics – takes him from aspiring warrior to rebel, crossing paths with a charismatic cast of characters and an unforgettable set of adventures, as he goes up against the King of Hungary, Sigismund the Red Fox and his fearsome allies.

A True RPG Experience
Your actions shape Henry’s destiny and how the world will react to him. Customize freely his appearance, skills and equipment while taking a moral stance on the events around you. Travel round the land engaging in unique activities, such as blacksmithing and archery, to truly immerse yourself in this vibrant region of Europe that will remember your actions, forever.

Live a Life Medieval
This stunningly authentic rendition of 15th Century Bohemia allows you to experience this fascinating setting like never before. Get lost in a sprawling city, engage with peasants and talk with nobles while exploring a vast and rich countryside with taverns, bath houses, castles and more.

Authentic First-Person Combat
Feel the clash of steel and visceral combat as you engage in thrilling real-time battles. There’s a range of authentic weapons and combat styles to suit every player. On foot, horse or by stealth, you can specialise in elegant sword mastery, brutal blunt weapons or deadly ranged attacks.