{"id":53521,"date":"2026-05-25T15:42:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T19:42:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/warhorse-studios-reveals-next-kingdom-come-game-within-two-years\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T15:43:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T19:43:14","slug":"warhorse-studios-next-kingdom-come-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/warhorse-studios-next-kingdom-come-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Warhorse Studios Reveals Next Kingdom Come Game Within Two Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Warhorse Studios<\/a> has confirmed that the next installment in the Kingdom Come: Deliverance<\/a> series is arriving far sooner than many fans anticipated, with a release window<\/a> now set for the 2027-2028 fiscal year. The revelation came directly from the studio’s communications director, Sir Tobi, during a community stream on YouTube<\/a>, where he assured viewers they “don’t have to wait seven years for another Kingdom Come.” This marks a significant acceleration in the franchise’s release cadence, especially when compared to the lengthy seven-year gap between the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its 2024 sequel. The news arrives as Embracer Group<\/a>, Warhorse’s parent company, executes a major corporate restructuring that will see the conglomerate split into two distinct entities, with one division specifically dedicated to nurturing its most valuable intellectual properties, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Tomb Raider, and The Lord of the Rings. Warhorse Studios, the Czech developer that built its reputation on historically grounded medieval RPGs, finds itself at the center of this ambitious strategy, balancing work on a new Kingdom Come title alongside the development of a highly anticipated role-playing game set in Middle-earth.<\/p>\n

The Embracer Group Restructuring and Its Implications for Warhorse Studios<\/h2>\n

Embracer Group’s decision to split into two separate companies represents a pivotal moment for the organization and its portfolio of studios. The new structure will create a dedicated division focused on the company’s most commercially successful and culturally significant franchises. Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Tomb Raider, and The Lord of the Rings are expected to form the cornerstone of this new entity, receiving heightened investment and strategic attention. This reorganization is not merely a corporate formality; it signals a clear prioritization of proven properties that can deliver consistent returns in an increasingly competitive gaming market. For Warhorse Studios, this realignment provides both stability and mandate. The studio has already demonstrated its capacity for critical and commercial success with the Kingdom Come series, and the new corporate structure places it in a position to expand its output considerably. At the same time, Embracer has indicated that smaller series such as Legacy of Kain, Thief, Saints Row, and Red Faction remain under consideration for potential revivals, though the bulk of resources and focus will naturally gravitate toward the flagship franchises that generate the most revenue and audience engagement.<\/p>\n

Inside the Next Kingdom Come: Deliverance Project<\/h2>\n

The most concrete detail to emerge from the community stream is the appointment of Prokop Jirsa as project leader for the upcoming Kingdom Come title. Jirsa previously served as lead designer on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a role that placed him at the creative heart of the franchise’s most recent success. His promotion to project leader suggests a continuity of vision and design philosophy that should reassure fans concerned about stylistic shifts or departures from the series’ established identity. What remains unclear, and what the studio has deliberately left ambiguous, is whether this new game will be a direct sequel in the form of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3 or a spin-off that explores different narrative angles within the same historical setting. Both possibilities carry distinct implications. A third mainline entry would continue the story of Henry of Skalitz and expand the open-world medieval simulation that defines the series. A spin-off, on the other hand, could introduce new protagonists, regions, or time periods within the Kingdom Come universe, potentially exploring different facets of medieval Bohemian life that the main series has not yet addressed. The choice between these two directions will fundamentally shape the scope, narrative structure, and gameplay expectations of the project.<\/p>\n

Release Timeline and the Fiscal Year Window<\/h3>\n

The new Kingdom Come game is currently scheduled for release within the next fiscal year, which runs from April 1, 2027, through March 31, 2028. This timeline places the launch less than two years from the present, a dramatically shorter turnaround than the seven-year development cycle that separated the first two games. Several factors likely contribute to this accelerated schedule. Warhorse Studios has expanded its team and refined its production pipeline since the original game’s release. The studio now benefits from established engine technology, reusable assets, and a deeper understanding of the medieval open-world genre. Additionally, the core development team remains largely intact, with key personnel like Jirsa and design director Viktor Bocan continuing to lead projects within the studio. This continuity reduces the onboarding and orientation time that typically accompanies major staffing changes. For players, the shorter wait means that the franchise is evolving from a occasional release into a more consistently supported series. The seven-year gap between the first and second games was a product of the studio’s early challenges in establishing itself, building its technology stack, and proving its concept to the market. Now that the franchise has achieved recognition and commercial viability, the development cycle can operate more efficiently and predictably.<\/p>\n

The Lord of the Rings RPG: A Second Front for Warhorse<\/h2>\n

In addition to the new Kingdom Come project, Warhorse Studios is actively developing a role-playing game set in Middle-earth, based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Sir Tobi confirmed during the same community stream that Viktor Bocan, the design director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, is leading this project. Bocan’s involvement suggests that the Lord of the Rings RPG will share certain design sensibilities with the Kingdom Come series, particularly in terms of world-building, systemic depth, and narrative immersion. The choice of Warhorse to handle a Lord of the Rings property is noteworthy. The studio has demonstrated a particular strength in creating historically grounded, detail-rich environments that feel lived-in and authentic. While Middle-earth is a fantasy setting rather than a historically recorded one, the same principles of environmental storytelling, cultural detail, and believable NPC behavior could translate exceptionally well to Tolkien’s world. The Lord of the Rings gaming license has a varied history, encompassing everything from action-adventure titles to real-time strategy games and massively multiplayer online role-playing games. An RPG developed by Warhorse would represent a return to deep, character-driven storytelling within a fully realized open world, a combination that has proven successful for other fantasy RPGs in recent years. The overlap in development between the Kingdom Come and Lord of the Rings projects raises interesting questions about resource allocation and studio priorities. Warhorse will need to maintain momentum on both fronts simultaneously, balancing the expectations of two distinct fan bases while ensuring that neither project suffers from divided attention. The fact that two key creative leads, Jirsa and Bocan, are each heading one of these initiatives suggests a deliberate strategy of parallel development rather than sequential production.<\/p>\n

Strategic Significance of a Faster Release Cadence<\/h2>\n

The decision to accelerate the Kingdom Come release schedule carries strategic implications that extend beyond fan satisfaction. In the current gaming landscape, franchises that maintain regular engagement with their audiences tend to retain mindshare more effectively than those that disappear for extended periods. A seven-year gap between entries risks losing casual players who may move on to other series, while also allowing competing medieval or historical RPGs to fill the void. By shortening the development cycle, Warhorse and Embracer are positioning Kingdom Come as a more active and present franchise in the market. This approach also enables the studio to iterate more quickly on gameplay systems, address player feedback in a timelier manner, and build a cohesive narrative arc across multiple titles without requiring players to wait a full console generation between installments. The accelerated timeline also aligns with Embracer’s broader corporate strategy. The company is clearly identifying its strongest properties and investing in them heavily, recognizing that sustained output from proven franchises generates more predictable revenue streams than relying on unproven new IPs. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was a critical and commercial success, and the logical next step is to capitalize on that momentum with a follow-up that arrives while the audience is still engaged and eager for more content. From a financial perspective, a two-year development cycle for a game that builds on existing technology and assets is far more efficient than a seven-year cycle that requires building everything from the ground up.<\/p>\n

Potential Challenges of an Accelerated Schedule<\/h3>\n

While the shorter timeline is welcome news for fans, it also introduces potential risks that Warhorse will need to manage carefully. The seven-year development cycle for the first two games allowed the studio to refine its vision meticulously, polish its systems, and ensure a level of historical authenticity that became a hallmark of the series. A compressed schedule could pressure the team to cut corners or compromise on the depth and detail that distinguishes Kingdom Come from other open-world RPGs. Additionally, the simultaneous development of the Lord of the Rings RPG means that key personnel and resources are split between two major projects. If either project encounters delays or creative challenges, the studio’s capacity to respond may be stretched thin. Maintaining the franchise’s reputation for historical accuracy and systemic depth while operating on a faster production timeline will require careful project management and possibly additional hiring. The studio has not indicated whether it plans to expand its workforce to accommodate the increased workload, but such an expansion would be a logical step to ensure quality standards are maintained across both projects. Another consideration is the nature of the next Kingdom Come game itself. If it is a spin-off rather than a direct sequel, it may benefit from a shorter development cycle because it can reuse existing technology, assets, and even portions of the game world while introducing new narrative and gameplay elements. A spin-off could also serve as a bridge between major entries, keeping the franchise alive and relevant while the studio prepares a more ambitious mainline sequel for a later date. The ambiguity surrounding whether the project is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3 or a spin-off may itself be strategic, allowing the studio flexibility in defining the scope and scale of the release.<\/p>\n

The Broader Industry Context and Warhorse’s Position<\/h2>\n

The news of Warhorse’s accelerated release schedule comes against a backdrop of ongoing industry discussions about development efficiency, workforce size, and production output. In a separate but related story, the creator of Kingdom Come: Deliverance publicly mocked Ubisoft’s approach to game development, suggesting that the French publisher could produce ten games of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s scale every year given its massive workforce. This comment highlights a fundamental difference in development philosophy between Warhorse and larger AAA studios. Warhorse has consistently prioritized focused, detail-oriented design over rapid output, building its reputation on the quality and authenticity of its medieval world rather than the quantity of its releases. The studio’s ability to deliver a new Kingdom Come game within two years, while also developing a Lord of the Rings RPG, demonstrates that it is finding a middle ground between the unsustainable seven-year cycles of the past and the conveyor-belt production model that characterizes some larger publishers. Warhorse’s approach suggests that it is possible to accelerate development without sacrificing the core values that define the studio’s work, provided the team can maintain its focus and protect its creative culture. The studio’s position within Embracer’s new structure also offers a degree of financial security that independent developers often lack. Access to stable funding, shared resources, and corporate support can significantly reduce the operational risks associated with simultaneous large-scale projects.<\/p>\n

What This Means for Kingdom Come Fans<\/h2>\n

For the dedicated community that has supported Warhorse through two major releases, the news of a new game arriving within two years represents a significant shift in the franchise’s trajectory. The seven-year wait between the first and second games felt interminable to many fans, who were left wondering whether the series would continue at all. The confirmation that a new entry is not only in development but scheduled for release in a concrete fiscal year window provides clarity and reassurance. Fans can now begin speculating about the setting, story, and mechanics of the new game with a reasonable expectation that their anticipation will be rewarded in the near rather than distant future. The question of whether the new title will be a direct sequel or a spin-off will likely dominate community discussions until Warhorse provides official clarification. Each possibility offers distinct opportunities. A direct sequel would continue the narrative of Henry of Skalitz, potentially advancing the story toward a conclusion that the second game’s ending set up. A spin-off could explore other regions of medieval Bohemia, introduce different social classes or professions, or even shift the timeline to a different period within the Holy Roman Empire. Both approaches have precedent in successful RPG franchises, and Warhorse’s track record with historical research and world-building suggests that either direction could result in a compelling experience.<\/p>\n

The Lord of the Rings RPG as a Complementary Project<\/h3>\n

The development of a Lord of the Rings RPG alongside the new Kingdom Come game expands Warhorse’s creative portfolio and introduces the studio to a broader audience. Tolkien’s Middle-earth is one of the most beloved fantasy settings in popular culture, and an RPG developed by a team with Warhorse’s pedigree has the potential to capture the same sense of immersion and authenticity that defines the Kingdom Come series. While the two projects are separate, they share a common design philosophy centered on detailed world-building, systemic depth, and narrative richness. Fans of Kingdom Come who are also Tolkien enthusiasts may find themselves with two Warhorse-developed RPGs to look forward to, each offering a different flavor of historical or fantastical realism. The Lord of the Rings RPG also represents a strategic diversification for the studio. By developing a game based on an established and widely recognized IP, Warhorse reduces its dependence on the commercial performance of its original series. A successful Lord of the Rings game could open doors to additional licensed projects or original IPs in the future, strengthening the studio’s long-term stability. At the same time, the studio must ensure that its work on Middle-earth does not detract from the quality of its flagship series. The two projects will inevitably compete for internal resources, and Warhorse’s leadership will need to maintain a careful balance to satisfy both fan bases.<\/p>\n

Looking at the Fiscal Year 2027-2028 Window<\/h2>\n

The specific fiscal year window of April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028, provides a tangible timeframe for planning and expectations. This is not a vague “coming soon” promise but a concrete scheduling commitment that aligns with Embracer’s corporate reporting and release planning. For players, this window suggests that the game will likely launch in the latter half of 2027 or early 2028, depending on internal milestones and quality assurance timelines. The fiscal year structure also indicates that Embracer and Warhorse are coordinating their release strategy with broader corporate objectives, ensuring that the new Kingdom Come game arrives at a time that maximizes its commercial impact. The timing also means that the game will arrive on hardware that is several years into the current console generation, allowing developers to take full advantage of optimized development tools and established player bases on PlayStation<\/a> 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. By the time of release, the current generation of consoles will be well into its lifecycle, providing a stable and mature platform for the game’s technical ambitions. This is a far more favorable position than launching early in a console generation, when development tools are still evolving and player adoption is still ramping up.<\/p>\n

The Path Forward for Warhorse Studios<\/h2>\n

Warhorse Studios is entering a period of significant expansion and increased visibility. The studio that once operated as a single-project team focused on proving its medieval RPG concept is now managing multiple high-profile releases simultaneously. The success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, both critically and commercially, has earned the studio the trust and investment necessary to pursue this ambitious strategy. The next few years will test whether Warhorse can scale its operations without diluting the quality that made its games stand out in the first place. The studio’s leadership has demonstrated an understanding of this challenge by assigning dedicated project leads to each initiative, ensuring that both the Kingdom Come series and the Lord of the Rings RPG receive focused creative direction. The coming months will likely bring more concrete details about the next Kingdom Come game, including its official title, setting, and gameplay features. Warhorse has indicated that it will share more information as development progresses, and the community can expect a gradual reveal of details leading up to the release window. For now, the key takeaway is clear: the Kingdom Come: Deliverance franchise is moving forward at an accelerated pace, and fans have less than two years to wait before they can return to the meticulously crafted medieval world that Warhorse Studios has built. Whether that return takes the form of a direct sequel or a spin-off, the promise of a shorter development cycle signals a new chapter for both the studio and its dedicated audience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Warhorse Studios has confirmed that the next installment in the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series is arriving far sooner than many fans anticipated, with a release window now set for the 2027-2028 fiscal year. The revelation came directly from the studio’s communications director, Sir Tobi, during a community stream on YouTube, where he assured viewers they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":73224,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/iili.io\/CJtKm41.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Warhorse Studios Reveals Next Kingdom Come Game Within Two Years","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-videogames"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/iili.io\/CJtKm41.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Warhorse Studios Reveals Next Kingdom Come Game Within Two Years","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53521"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53521\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}