Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Becomes Festival Film

This year, if you stepped away from gaming to explore the real world, you might have noticed an unusual trend at major film festivals. It began in May when Cannes debuted a film adaptation of the viral Japanese indie game Exit 8—marking the first time a video game movie graced the festival's prestigious lineup. Director Genki Kawamura reinvented the source material with a compelling narrative twist, captivating both arthouse audiences and gamers. Yet, live-action video game adaptations are hardly groundbreaking.

That's what makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Cinematic Cut so intriguing. Unlike traditional adaptations, it’s a streamlined version of Act One from Warhorse Studios' acclaimed RPG, blending cutscenes and gameplay into a two-hour linear experience. Premiering at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, this experimental presentation stood out as a bold cross-media venture—one that wasn't initially Warhorse’s idea.

"The collaboration began at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's official launch," explains KVIFF artistic director Karel Och. "Through mutual connections, Warhorse and our festival discovered shared ambitions. Over time, we gained insight into Warhorse’s creative vision—and I believe they saw something equally inspiring in us."

Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, Warhorse’s communications director, agrees. "KVIFF wanted to modernize their lineup with fresh content." As Eastern Europe’s largest film festival, KVIFF attracts a younger, adventurous crowd. For Warhorse, this was an opportunity to elevate gaming’s cultural status—especially fitting since many of their cinematic team members spoke the language of film.

Petr Pekař, cinematic director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, originally trained in traditional filmmaking before finding his niche in games. "The Czech film industry is competitive, but gaming offers expansive opportunities," he says. Starting with Mafia 3’s cutscenes, Pekař later joined Warhorse, eventually helming the sequel’s cinematic direction.

Adapting gameplay cutscenes for cinema invites inevitable comparisons—though their original purpose differs. "Cutscenes enhance immersion but aren’t essential," Pekař notes. "When executed well, they elevate the story’s emotional impact."

The Cinematic Cut’s presentation—beginning with familiar fantasy tropes reminiscent of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings—highlights gaming’s longstanding dialogue with cinema. Yet unlike interactive gameplay, this version remains purely observational, sparking curiosity about storytelling possibilities beyond traditional formats.

"Someone could refine this experiment further," Pekař admits. The film transitions seamlessly between cutscenes and gameplay footage, edited with cinematic precision by Warhorse’s marketing specialist Vítek Mičke. Though occasional abrupt shifts remind viewers of its gaming roots, the overall effect is surprisingly cohesive.

"Seeing it on the big screen was revelatory," Pekař reflects. "While not groundbreaking cinema, it’s a compelling festival format—one others may adopt."

KVIFF’s team echoes this sentiment. "Collaborating with Warhorse enriched our festival’s legacy," says Och. For Pekař, the project bridges mediums: "Gamers gain appreciation for cinematic craft, while film audiences see how interactivity reshapes storytelling."

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Cinematic Cut streams on KVIFF.TV until July 31, 2027, for a small fee.