Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s long-awaited Hardcore Mode arrives next week, challenging players with harsh survival mechanics, no fast travel, and punishing negative perks that permanently affect gameplay.
Warhorse Studios has confirmed that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s much-anticipated Hardcore Mode will officially launch next week, delivering a tougher and more immersive medieval experience for players across Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Following the massive success of the game’s launch in February, which saw it climb sales charts and receive critical acclaim, Warhorse has been consistently rolling out post-launch updates. The last major update introduced over 1,000 bug fixes, performance tweaks, and a Barber Mode that allowed players to alter protagonist Henry’s hairstyle and beard. Now, the Hardcore Mode—teased since launch—is finally ready for release.
Hardcore Mode is designed to push players to their limits. At the start of a Hardcore playthrough, players must choose three out of ten negative perks, each with unique and often punishing effects that last for the entire game. These perks include:
- Numbskull – Slower experience gain.
- Bad Back – Reduced carry weight and risk of injury while gathering herbs or mushrooms.
- Heavy-Footed – Louder movement and faster shoe degradation.
- Sweaty – Increased body odor, likely affecting stealth and social interactions.
- Picky Eater – Restrictive food consumption complicates hunger management.
- Somnambulant, Bashful, Hangry Henry, Menace, and Punchable Face round out the list, each seemingly self-explanatory and challenging in their own ways.
But it’s not just the perks making things harder. Hardcore Mode removes fast travel, strips the player marker from the map, removes cardinal directions from the compass, and limits helpful UI elements. Players must rely on in-world navigation, such as landmarks or even the in-game star map of summer 1403, to find their way. It’s a bold return to the fundamentals of open-world exploration.
The update containing Hardcore Mode will be free for all players, likely arriving between April 14–18, though no exact release date has been confirmed. Notably, some fans had already uncovered the unfinished Hardcore Mode using console commands on PC, but Warhorse advised against accessing it early, as it was not yet polished.
This release is the next step in a robust post-launch roadmap. Upcoming paid expansions include “Brushes With Death” in Summer 2025, “Legacy of the Forge” in Autumn 2025, and “Mysteria Ecclesia” in Winter 2025. Each promises new quests and deeper insights into Henry’s story, from teaming up with an artist to mastering blacksmithing and uncovering monastery secrets.
Hardcore Mode has been one of the most requested features since launch, and it’s poised to deliver an uncompromising experience for those seeking realism, survival, and an authentic medieval challenge. If you thought Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was immersive before, this new mode will truly test your knightly mettle.
