Warhorse Studios posted a Kickstarter update detailing their collaboration with Koch Media. Warhorse is teaming up with Koch’s publishing label, Deep Silver, to bring Kingdom Come: Deliverance to PS4, Xbox One, and PC through physical and digital distribution in 2017. Any mention of the promised Mac or Linux versions of the game was conspicuously absent from the update. This fact did not escape backer notice.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance has had a turbulent development from the beginning. Warhorse originally began development on their swords, no sorcery medieval RPG back in 2011. Two years in they ran into financial trouble that pushed them to the brink of closure. It was only through the grace of Kickstarter (and the generosity of 35,384 backers) that they were able to raise £1,106,371 to complete the game. Several years (and delays) later it looks like they are finally preparing to deliver Kingdom Come to backers, just not all of them.
The update cheerfully recounts the game’s history and upcoming physical and digital releases, but some backers have raised concerns. The original campaign made a big deal about its PC, Mac and Linux versions. The PS4 and Xbox One were actually questionable since they would require outside approval from the platform holders. Now it seems that focus has shifted entirely to supporting consoles and Windows. Warhorse seemingly ignores any mention of the promised Mac or Linux versions.
Gameplay and Game Changers
Actually, that’s not entirely true. The Kickstarter updates certainly make no mention of the missing versions. However, Warhorse posted a video to their YouTube channel back in September where two members of the dev team were showing off gameplay from Gamescom.
In a seemingly offhand comment during the broadcast, Warhorse’s PR Manager, Tobi Stolz-Zwilling, mentioned that the Linux version isn’t being worked on. Not only that, but it remains questionable if a Linux version will be developed later.
“We’re developing right now for Windows, PS4, and Xbox One. These are the versions which will be released on day one. And then, the rest is something we have to see. Either it’s Linux, VR Support, if it’s PS4 Pro and these kind of stuff. That’s something we have to deliver later after the official release. IF we deliver it.”
There were a fair share of backers who had initially supported Kingdom Come specifically because it promised a Linux version. So while Warhorse seems to be playing this off like a minor detail the comments section of the Kickstarter tells another story.
It’s troubling to see this problem going largely unaddressed by Warhorse. Rather than openly communicate this change to backers they’ve just been paying out refunds to those industrious enough to demand them. Backers who haven’t been keenly watching the project over the past (nearly 3) years may be in a for a surprise when Kingdom Come finally delivers next year.
