Kingmakers Delayed Just Days Before Launch as Developers Address Performance and Polish Issues

Kingmakers, the highly anticipated medieval-meets-modern warfare sandbox from Redemption Road Games, has been officially delayed just five days before its planned early access release. The studio cited the need for additional polish, optimization, and overall performance consistency as the reason for the postponement. No new release date has been confirmed. The announcement was first reported by PC Gamer.

A Game of Massive Scale and Technical Ambition

Kingmakers blends medieval combat with modern weaponry, allowing players to bring assault rifles, tanks, and helicopters to centuries-old battlefields filled with knights and siege engines. The game’s goal is to simulate chaotic large-scale warfare featuring tens of thousands of AI-controlled units. According to GameSpot, the concept has drawn attention for its scale and absurdity — a “time-travel shooter where history fights back.”

Built on Unreal Engine 4, Kingmakers aims to maintain a stable 60 fps on midrange PCs without relying on frame reconstruction or interpolation. The developer previously told GamesRadar that the team was “pushing Unreal Engine 4 to its absolute limits,” a challenge that now appears central to the delay.

Why the Delay Happened

In a statement posted to the game’s official channels, Redemption Road said the decision was made to ensure quality: “We don’t want to compromise our standards or rush a version that doesn’t meet expectations.” Reportedly, internal testing revealed framerate drops during massive battles, AI navigation issues, and incomplete visual passes in some environments. The developers noted that all core gameplay systems are operational, but additional QA time is required to ensure stability and consistency before release.

The studio also plans to publish a behind-the-scenes development video showcasing updated footage and performance progress. By maintaining communication, Redemption Road hopes to sustain community trust despite the late delay.

Community and Industry Reactions

Among players, the reaction has been divided. Some fans expressed frustration at a delay so close to launch, while others praised the team’s honesty and commitment to polish. Industry analysts largely view the decision as sensible: given the game’s technical ambition, a few additional months of optimization could prevent an unstable early access debut and long-term backlash.

What Comes Next for Kingmakers

Although the studio has not provided a new release date, it confirmed that frequent updates will continue during the extended testing phase. If Redemption Road succeeds in delivering the large-scale, destruction-driven sandbox experience it envisions, the delay may ultimately strengthen Kingmakers’ reputation rather than harm it. For now, fans will have to wait a little longer to bring modern firepower to medieval chaos.