Lina Hope
The recent announcement that Warhorse Studios—the acclaimed developer behind the Kingdom Come franchise—is actively developing two major projects has sparked significant industry buzz. Following weeks of speculation regarding the studio’s capacity and the nature of their upcoming titles, the developer has officially clarified its roadmap. Fans can breathe a sigh of relief: Warhorse is not pivoting away from its roots. Instead, the studio is moving forward with two distinct, high-fidelity open-world RPGs: one set in the gritty, historical world of Kingdom Come and the other set in the legendary realm of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
This confirmation marks a major milestone for the Czech-based developer, which has proven its ability to handle ambitious, systems-heavy RPGs. As the studio expands its footprint, the gaming community is left to contemplate how such a relatively compact team plans to execute two massive, open-world projects simultaneously.
The Chronology of Speculation and Clarity
The journey toward this confirmation has been anything but straightforward. Initially, rumors swirled that Warhorse was shifting its entire focus toward an open-world Lord of the Rings title, leading many in the community to fear that the Kingdom Come franchise, which had finally found its footing with the sequel, might be relegated to the history books.
The confusion was exacerbated by the ambiguous phrasing in early announcements. Warhorse referred to the new project simply as a "Kingdom Come adventure," a term broad enough to encompass anything from a tabletop RPG or a mobile spin-off to a linear narrative expansion. Given that a live-action Kingdom Come film has been in development limbo for over six years, fans were rightfully skeptical about what the term "adventure" implied.
However, in a definitive community stream hosted by PR lead Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, the developer dismantled the uncertainty. By confirming that the studio is working on two separate open-world RPGs, Warhorse has provided a clear trajectory for its future output. The timeline for these projects is aggressive, with parent company Embracer Group suggesting that the new Kingdom Come title could potentially see a release as early as the next fiscal year—a window spanning from April 2027 to March 2028.
Organizational Shifts and Leadership Roles
With two massive projects in the pipeline, Warhorse has undergone a strategic internal reorganization to ensure that both titles receive the attention they require.
One of the most notable changes is the shifting of the creative guard. Prokop Jirsa, a key designer on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has been tapped to serve as the creative lead for the new Kingdom Come project. This transition follows the departure of studio co-founder and original creative director Daniel Vávra, who has stepped away from the immediate day-to-day development of the games to focus on the long-gestating cinematic adaptation of the Kingdom Come universe.
Simultaneously, the Lord of the Rings project is being spearheaded by a seasoned veteran of the studio. Viktor Bocan, who served as the design director for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has been assigned to lead the development team tasked with translating the lore of Middle-earth into an interactive, open-world format. By placing established veterans at the helm of both projects, Warhorse is signaling that it intends to maintain the high standards of historical and environmental detail that fans have come to expect from their previous work.
Supporting Data: Why Two RPGs?
The decision to develop two concurrent open-world RPGs is a bold move, particularly for a studio that has traditionally operated as a mid-sized developer. However, the success of the Kingdom Come series has provided Warhorse with the resources and technical foundation to scale operations.
The Technical Framework
Warhorse has built a proprietary approach to open-world design that prioritizes immersion, systemic realism, and historical authenticity. By utilizing the foundation built during the development of Deliverance 2, the team is effectively working with a "known quantity." Much of the underlying architecture—the combat systems, quest management, and AI behavior—is already established. This allows the team to pivot that technology toward different settings without needing to reinvent the engine from the ground up.
The Embracer Group Connection
Parent company Embracer Group has been instrumental in providing the financial backing for this expansion. During recent earnings calls, leadership at Embracer has underscored the value of the IP held by Warhorse. By diversifying the studio’s portfolio—moving from a singular historical focus to include the high-fantasy appeal of Middle-earth—the company is maximizing the return on investment for its internal talent.
Implications of the "Unnamed" Kingdom Come Title
Perhaps the most intriguing detail regarding the upcoming Kingdom Come project is the notable absence of the word "Deliverance" from its title. In the gaming industry, naming conventions are rarely accidental; they serve as critical signifiers to the player base.
The omission of "Deliverance" suggests that the upcoming game may represent a departure from the story of Henry of Skalitz. While Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its sequel were deeply tied to Henry’s personal journey through the Bohemian landscape, the next title could be a spiritual successor. This would allow Warhorse to explore different eras, regions, or social strata within the medieval world without being tethered to the narrative conclusion of Henry’s arc.
This change in branding could imply a few different directions for the studio:
- A New Protagonist: The game may feature a completely new lead, allowing for a fresh perspective on the 15th-century setting.
- Geographical Shift: The narrative could move to a different part of the Holy Roman Empire, moving away from the specific locales of the first two games.
- Gameplay Innovation: The shift in naming might also reflect a shift in gameplay mechanics, perhaps leaning further into the survival or management elements that fans of the franchise often praise.
Regardless of the specific setting, the "open-world RPG" label confirms that Warhorse is staying true to its core identity: providing deep, simulation-heavy experiences that reward patience and attention to detail.
The Middle-earth Factor
The intersection of Warhorse Studios and the Lord of the Rings license is a development that many fans find incredibly promising. The studio’s expertise in crafting "lived-in," historically accurate, and often unforgiving worlds is a perfect thematic fit for the grounded, high-stakes nature of Middle-earth.
Fans have already begun identifying "Tolkien-esque" elements within the latest Kingdom Come titles—such as the focus on rural, agrarian beauty, the importance of lineage and heraldry, and the harsh realities of medieval warfare. These thematic overlaps suggest that Warhorse will not merely be applying a "Middle-earth skin" to their current game, but rather utilizing their expertise in low-fantasy, grounded storytelling to bring Tolkien’s world to life in a way that feels authentic and distinct from the high-fantasy tropes of other titles.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the 2027-2028 release window, the gaming world will be watching Warhorse Studios closely. The transition from a single-project developer to a multi-project studio is a common "make or break" moment for companies in the industry. However, with clear leadership roles defined, a proven technical foundation in place, and a commitment to the RPG genre, Warhorse appears to be navigating this expansion with caution and intent.
The next few years will likely be filled with incremental reveals, technical showcases, and, hopefully, a glimpse at the new protagonists we will inhabit. For now, the takeaway is clear: Warhorse is committed to delivering the dense, simulation-driven experiences that defined their rise to prominence, and they are doing so on a scale that will challenge their creative limits. Whether in the fields of Bohemia or the plains of Middle-earth, the future of the open-world RPG looks to be in very capable hands.
Sagoh
Iffa Jayyana
