Kingdom Under Fire 2 will be released on November 14, 2019. However, the release has been delayed for many years. We spoke with the developers about the game’s journey to becoming a completed MMORPG.
Who did we speak with? We were able to conduct an interview with Creative Director Jubo Kim from the developer Blueside and Executive Producer Botond Nemeth from the publisher Gameforge.
They revealed to us where the biggest hurdles in the development of Kingdom Under Fire 2 lay, what is done differently in the West, and what content is planned after the release.
The interview took place at the same event, where we also got a first insight into the game.
Balancing and Other Hurdles in Development
What is Kingdom Under Fire 2? The new game combines the two genres MMORPG and RTS to create the largest and most exciting battles possible. As a player, you will coordinate battles and fight in them at the same time.
This combination was not always easy, as Jubo Kim revealed to us. Both genres are very different and difficult to combine. In his opinion, Kingdom Under Fire 2 is the first game to attempt this on such a scale and will succeed.
However, much time has also been invested. Development on KUF2 began nearly 12 years ago. It is considered the most expensive Korean MMO of all time.
Where were the biggest problems? Particularly the balance led to significant hurdles in development, as Kim explained:
In Kingdom Under Fire 2, we have many different units. We have the player as a leader, we have troops consisting of a single unit, and troops with multiple units.
Balancing this is difficult. The player shouldn’t deal as much damage to a single unit as to a unit that comes from a larger troop.
The problems cannot be solved with a simple equation but led to many intense calculations. In the end, the player notices none of this. They enjoy the exciting and balanced battles.
Aside from balance, there were also technical challenges. The state of gaming and the associated engines have changed significantly over 12 years. This led to recurring problems.
The finished MMORPG should be able to handle current demands well. One reason for this is the in-house engine, which has been adapted to changes over the years. Moreover, large battles have been a focus from the beginning, so that this was worked towards. This benefited game development.
Why is it being released now? Jubo Kim revealed that the developers have realized over the last few months that Kingdom Under Fire 2 is in good shape.
Internal tests have yielded satisfactory results, which is why they are now aiming for a release in the West. The MMORPG is set to arrive in Germany on November 14.
Changes to Monetization and the Client
What changes have been made for the West? The release in the West meant some adjustments for Kingdom Under Fire 2. Monetization has been particularly altered:
- While the game is Free2Play in other regions, it will be Buy2Play here. Versions are available for 30 to 100 euros.
- In return, the real-money shop has been adjusted. All Pay2Win content available in other regions has been removed, and a second shop has been introduced. There, players can purchase boosters and similar content for in-game currency.
This step is particularly interesting for Gameforge. The publisher has mainly been distributing Free2Play games, as Botond Nemeth explained to us:
Even though Free2Play can work here in the West, and we at Gameforge primarily distribute Free2Play games, we wanted to try something different this time.
We are drawing on experiences from other areas and want players to experience everything with just the purchase of the MMORPG.
That’s why we introduced the Cubic Shop, where players can spend in-game currency. This was by far the biggest change for the West.
In addition to this major change, there have been several other adjustments for the West, including:
- A modern 64-bit client
- Anti-cheat measures for a better gaming experience
- Numerous client stabilizations implemented by Gameforge.
- Language adaptations to English, German, and French.
A Mix of East and West
How did the general setting of Kingdom Under Fire 2 come about? The MMORPG has some Eastern influences, but is set in a medieval world more typically associated with the West.
Jubo Kim is well acquainted with Kingdom Under Fire. Years ago he played it and was later involved in the development of Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom. He himself is a fan of the medieval world, and the same goes for the CEO of Blueside, Sejung Kim.
This is a main reason why Kingdom Under Fire 2 uses many castles and siege weapons from this world. They were also inspired by the Warhammer franchise.
Western community can influence the game: Currently, the 5 classes of KUF2 are gender-locked. This is not unusual for games from Asia.
However, this restriction does not have to remain in the future, Kim revealed:
Currently, dissolving the gender lock is not a high priority for us. But we listen to community feedback. If there is a demand, it could also be adjusted in the future.
No Plans for Consoles
What about KUF2 for consoles? In the past, it was reported that the MMORPG would also be released for PS4. The Xbox One, on the other hand, has already been excluded in advance.
Botond Nemeth reports that there are currently no plans for consoles. Gameforge is “still” a PC-oriented company. Therefore, the focus is on the PC version. But community feedback will also be taken into account here.
New Class and New Raid Already Planned
What comes after the release? There are already plans for the time after the release of Kingdom Under Fire 2:
- A sixth class is in the works. The Dark Sorceress.
- Additionally, a first raid is planned, in which 16 players can participate. At the end, a giant dragon awaits as the final boss for the players.
Both contents will be added to the game for free. However, when exactly has not yet been revealed.
We have already tried Kingdom Under Fire 2. Here is our first conclusion about the new MMORPG:
