The Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 video game was recently released, and it has received a lot of positive reviews from the gaming press and players themselves. The video game is praised for its enjoyable gameplay, wide variation, interesting battles and a rather interesting story. But what players liked the most was the incredible level of detail and attention to small details. And one of the most important and extremely important details in general has gone unnoticed by almost all gamers. Developer Warhorse Studios has impressed the gaming community with its obsession with historical accuracy, which has even gone beyond Earth – straight to the stars. As it turns out, instead of the standard night sky textures that most developers use, the team created a real authentic model of the night sky over Bohemia in 1403.
Astronomy as art
Warhorse Studios consulted with historians and astronomers to recreate the actual constellations visible in early 15th century Europe, as well as the positions of all stars visible to the naked eye. For example, the Pole Star in the game accurately points north.
I am in awe of this game.
In the night sky you can see real stars and constellations. And even find the North. pic.twitter.com/20FvZ05OSv— chirurgo bracchetto 🇪🇺 (@akickoutofyou) February 25, 2025
It’s not just aesthetics: in the future super-difficulty mode that will be added to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 with the spring update, stars will be the only reference point for players. Without interactive hints, GPS or markers, players would have to learn to “read” the sky as medieval travelers did.
“It’s not a performance for the public, but a survival tool,” explains studio PR manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling. For example, the Pole Star will indicate the direction to the north, and the position of the constellation Ursa Major will help to determine the time.
Close attention to history
While other studios release “raw” games with day one patches, Warhorse spent months researching medieval star maps. Studio historian Joanna Nowak emphasizes: “Every element of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – from the architecture to the sky – is a piece of the historical puzzle. We want the player to experience the medieval era, not just observe static scenery.”
Even the astronomical clock in Kuttenberg (which in reality burned down in a fire) was recreated based on archival drawings. But it was the starry sky that was the most unexpected character in the game.
Atmosphere is first and foremost
Warhorse, Larian, and Game Science are the few studios that follow the principle: atmosphere first. The starry sky in Kingdom Come 2 is just one of the threads in the fabric of authenticity. But this detail makes the world come alive.
Next time, before cursing the darkness, remember: hundreds of years ago, people were more likely to look up at the sky, which was not only a reference point for travelers, but was also a source of reflection for philosophers trying to understand and explain the world around us.
Previously, we explained how to navigate the starry sky.
According to fandomwire.com
