Henry's Next-Gen Glow-Up: Kingdom Come: Deliverance Finally Gets Its Wizardly Makeover
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Warhorse Studios has officially dropped a massive, free next-gen update for *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, bringing glorious 60 FPS, improved visuals, and save transfers, perfectly timed to ride the hype wave of its critically acclaimed sequel.
Right, so after what felt like an eternity of whispered prophecies and cryptic hints, Warhorse Studios has finally pulled a rabbit out of the digital hat. I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than just a simple patch note. We’re talking about a proper, honest-to-goodness next-gen update for the original *Kingdom Come: Deliverance*, and it’s a free one at that. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well? That's what Warhorse just did with Henry's adventures in Bohemia.
Big shout out to Daniel Morris over at Game Rant, who first reported on this monumental medieval glow-up. Cheers for the intel, mate!
The big news, for those who haven’t already heard the digital trumpets, is that *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* has officially landed on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, courtesy of the hefty 1.9.7 update. And here's the best bit: if you already owned the game on your PS4 or Xbox One, you’re getting this current-gen wizardry absolutely free. Not only that, but you can even transfer your old save games. So, all those hours spent trying not to get beaten up by a baker’s son, or meticulously polishing your armour, won’t be for naught. That’s a move that actually serves the players, which, let’s be fair, isn't always a given in this industry.
Now, if you’re anything like me, your magically-attuned brain is probably already asking, 'Why now, mate?' *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* first burst onto the scene in 2018. It was Warhorse Studios' debut, an ambitious, historically-rooted RPG that dared to ditch dragons for dirt and magic for mud. It was brilliant, but also a bit rough around the edges, with hardcore mechanics that weren’t for everyone. It was like a potent, but unrefined, potion – you knew it was good, but it might have given you a few uncomfortable side effects.
Fast forward to 2025, and its sequel, *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*, landed with the force of a trebuchet hitting a castle wall. Massive critical and commercial success, even a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards. Naturally, this explosion of interest in the sequel meant everyone suddenly remembered the rough-and-tumble beauty of the original. Conveniently, this shadow-drop of the next-gen update happens just after KCD2 absolutely smashed it. Call it savvy business, call it opportunistic, but whatever you call it, it’s undeniably a fantastic outcome for us gamers. It’s almost like Warhorse had a vision crystal ball showing them *exactly* when to unleash this update for maximum impact. Clever blighters.
So, what does this actual 1.9.7 update do beyond just slapping a 'PS5/Xbox Series X/S' label on the box? Well, dear adventurer, it brings the PC's 'Ultra' quality settings as the baseline for consoles. We’re talking massively improved visuals, higher-resolution textures and models, and a native resolution bump to 2560x1440, which then upscales gloriously to 4K (3840x2160). But the real magic? A silky-smooth 60 FPS on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Yes, you read that right. No more wrestling with framerates that feel like they're stuck in treacle during a particularly intense bandit encounter or a stroll through a bustling Rataje.
Warhorse attributes this newfound fluidity to 'optimizations tailored for the PS5 and Xbox Series hardware' within CryEngine – which means they didn't just port it; they tinkered with the very spell-casting system of the game engine itself. They've improved performance in demanding scenarios, optimised multi-threading, reworked asset streaming (adios, pop-ins and stutters!), and generally made the whole experience much more visually cohesive and responsive. It’s like they finally found the right incantation to make Bohemia truly sing on modern hardware.
Beyond the eye candy and framerate blessings, the patch also bundles in a bunch of other goodies. We’re getting new Czech and Japanese voice-overs (authentic!), plus improved Turkish and new Ukrainian and Brazilian Portuguese language options. And, of course, a stack of bug fixes – those pesky infinite loading screens during the ‘Run!’ or ‘Siege’ quests, and various crashes that could sometimes feel like a mischievous imp sabotaging your playthrough, have been banished. Even Henry’s transparent arms from that 'Quilted Vest' bug have been sorted! Finally, a fully opaque Henry, as nature intended.
It’s a bit of a perfect storm, really. The sequel’s success reignites interest, the original gets a much-deserved next-gen overhaul, and for those who’ve been patiently waiting, it’s now available on Xbox Game Pass. If you’ve always been curious about this unique blend of historical accuracy, challenging combat, and surprisingly deep role-playing, there’s truly no better time to become Henry, son of a blacksmith, and save Bohemia (or at least try very, very hard to).
Warhorse Studios, bless 'em, have come a long way since KCD’s slightly rough but ambitious debut. With *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* being one of the best RPGs of recent years, it’s exciting to think what kind of grand adventures or unexpected digital sorcery they’ll conjure up next. For now, though, I reckon we should all just appreciate that they’ve given the original the treatment it always deserved. It’s a good day for historical RPG fans, and a solid move from Warhorse. Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear the blacksmith calling…
Tags: Kingdom Come Deliverance, RPG, Next-Gen Update, Warhorse Studios, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant