From Interactive Epic to the Big Screen
The line between video games and cinema is blurring again — and this time, it’s not just a figure of speech. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the highly anticipated medieval RPG from Warhorse Studios, will have its cinematic cut screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on July 9.
Warhorse announced the news in a celebratory tweet, calling it a “proud moment for games as a serious storytelling medium.”
We're honoured to announce that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will be featured at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The world premiere of the #KCD2 Cinematic Cut will take place on 9 July – a proud moment for games as a serious storytelling medium.@KVIFF pic.twitter.com/bJGm3JuyXg— Warhorse Studios (@WarhorseStudios) June 17, 2025
What exactly this cinematic version will include is still unknown. Given that the game contains dozens of hours of cutscenes just for the main storyline — not even counting the vast number of side quests — a full narrative edit would require trimming down a massive amount of content. A 15-hour theatrical cut would certainly be unprecedented, if unlikely.
Still, with Daniel Vávra and Petr Pekař behind the adaptation — the game’s lead writer/director and cinematic director, respectively — expectations are high that the final product will live up to its ambitions.
Game of the Year Contender with Cinematic Ambition
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 picks up directly after the events of the first game, continuing the grounded, character-driven story of its protagonist in 15th-century Bohemia. Where many RPGs focus on global cataclysms and fantastical stakes, Deliverance is built on historical realism and the day-to-day struggles of people caught in political and personal turmoil.
The game has already achieved major success. It was named Best PC Game at Gamescom 2024, and according to reports, it broke even on day one of release. Its critical and commercial performance has solidified it as a strong contender for multiple Game of the Year awards.
Since launch, the developers have expanded the game with updates and new features, including a hardcore mode that raises the difficulty for seasoned players looking for a more punishing, survivalist experience.
Whether the cinematic cut becomes available to the public after its festival premiere remains to be seen, but fans and critics alike are hopeful. If it succeeds, it could further redefine what video games can be — not just as interactive experiences, but as fully-fledged narrative art forms worthy of the cinema screen.