By popular demand, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II now has the option for Hardcore Mode.

Not only will the game no longer permanently show your position on the map – with no compass or fast travel to make life easier – but players need to select at least three permanent negative traits at the start of the game, such as Bad Back, meaning you can carry less weight; Somnambulant, which means sleepwalking and waking up in random places; or Hangry Henry who is even more obsessed by food than usual.

It’s an evolution of a mode that existed in the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance designed to create a new level of immersion in the game.

Karel Kolmann, senior game designer at Warhorse Studios, explained that they wanted the Hardcore Mode to be as good as it was in the first game, but not a carbon copy.

“We only kept a couple of the first game’s perks, and then we made new ones to provide a completely new challenge. It’s not just about making the game harder either, it’s about making it more immersive too.

“In the first game’s Hardcore Mode, we did things like disabling your map position and removing the compass, but we’ve gone further this time. We’ve added the option to ask different NPCs about your location in the world, which is something more immersive. You can run into travellers on the road and ask for directions,” he added.

You can read more from Karel – and see the full list of Hardcore Mode perks at https://kingdomcomerpg.com. And for those who missed out getting their hands on the Gallant Huntsman Kit (which comes as part of the Gold Edition) when they purchased the standard edition, that FOMO can be fixed as the set is for sale as DLC.

Tracking down those who murdered your parents – or stalking game in the forest – you can now look the absolute part with the Gallant Huntsman’s Kit. Whether you’re sporting St. Hubert’s hunting cap, firing bolts at your quarry with Artemis’ crossbow or looking dapper in Nimrod’s famous hunting coat, this full costume hunting garb is a ‘must have’ for the aspiring ranger.

What does the Gallant Huntsman’s Kit include?

• “St. Hubert hat” Hunting Cap based on a legend about St. Hubert
• “Master huntsman´s hood” adorned with pearls to protect from the elements
• “Nimrod coat” Hunting Coat based on the famous hunter Nimrod
• “Master huntsman’s hose”
• “Master huntsman’s gloves” Hunting Gloves from leather for manipulating weapons and downing game
• “Master huntsman’s boots” Hunting Boots – well-made leather for stable movement through dense forest
• “Artemis’ crossbow” for hunting with our new type of ranged weapon
• “Hunting bolt” 30 bolts to use with the crossbow

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X|S – available in Standard, Gold and Collector’s Editions.