Fans of deep, systems-driven RPGs will be happy to learn that one of the best on the market, 2018's Kingdom Come: Deliverance, has officially come to Xbox Game Pass and is now available to play through Microsoft's all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service. Specifically, you can access it on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles with either the $14.99/month Xbox Game Pass Premium or the $29.99/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Notably, across Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles specifically, Kingdom Come: Deliverance has also gotten a special next-gen update that elevates the medieval RPG's visuals and performance. The patch is completely free for existing owners of the game, and brings native support for "up to 60 FPS, ultra-quality settings, and improved visual assets" on par with what's possible on the PC version.
On Xbox, the update is completely seamless thanks to Smart Delivery. For PlayStation users, you'll need to install the PS5 version, which you can do for free if you own the PS4 edition. If you have the Royal Edition that includes all the DLC, make sure you select the PS5 version of that one in the store. Note that Warhorse says your saves should transfer across generations without any issues.
The update was released alongside a brand new trailer with several cinematic before-and-after comparisons that showcase the next-gen enhancements. You can watch it here or with the embed below; overall, the improvements look very substantial.
The absence of a Nintendo Switch 2 version of this update is noteworthy, as the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance did eventually come to the first Switch console. Perhaps the Switch 2 isn't able to maintain good performance with these enhancements, or developer Warhorse Studios is still working on bringing them to the system.
This may not surprise you to hear given that it's the prequel to 2025's phenomenal Game of the Year-nominated RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, but Kingdom Come: Deliverance stands tall as one of the best games from the last generation, and is a must-play if you enjoyed the sequel or just like rich and expansive roleplaying titles.
It tells the story of Henry, the young son of a blacksmith as he clings to life after an army led by foreign invaders sacks his hometown. Set in Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire shortly after the turn of the 15th Century, it encompasses the onset of civil war between Bohemian lords fighting for King Wenceslaus IV and those supporting the invasion of the country by his half-brother Sigismund of Luxembourg and his Hungarian troops.
This conflict serves as the backdrop for Henry's quest for revenge, and as Henry, you're driven to explore the Bohemian countryside, get stronger, and play important roles in the civil war as you pursue vengeance. There's easily over 100+ hours of side quests and activities to engage with, too, making Kingdom Come one of the densest games I've ever played through.
Like its sequel, the RPG is also extremely "crunchy," and rich with reactive elements in its open world that make it feel more dynamic, lively, and immersive than most other entries in the genre. You can look forward to complex speech systems, survival mechanics, a combat system inspired and informed by real-world techniques and arms-and-armor interactions, and more.
Put simply, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a terrific game, and like Kingdom Come 2, it's one I can't recommend playing enough. And thanks to its arrival on Game Pass and its new next-gen update, it's never been more accessible on Xbox, and has never looked better on consoles. Now is the perfect time to jump in.
Have you played the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance? How about its award-winning sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2? Are you going to play (or replay) KCD now that it's on Game Pass and this next-gen update is out? Let me know in the comments.
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