If you’re stepping back into the historically rich world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2), chances are you’re chasing the perfect balance between breathtaking medieval visuals and smooth, responsive performance. Updated for the game’s fully matured state in late 2025, this guide is tailored specifically for mid-to-high-end PC players who want the best possible frame rates without sacrificing immersion.
Whether your goal is a rock-solid 60 FPS, a high-refresh 1440p experience, or even optimized 4K gameplay, this guide breaks down exactly which settings matter—and which ones don’t.
💡 Performance Note:
Unlike many modern releases, KCD2 launched with exceptional polish. Thanks to Warhorse Studios’ expert use of CryEngine, the game avoids shader compilation stutter, traversal hitching, and frame-time spikes common in newer engines. The result is one of the smoothest open-world RPG experiences available in 2025.
Understanding KCD2’s Graphics Engine & Presets
Performance in KCD2 begins with its engine. The game runs on a refined DirectX 12 version of CryEngine, known for rendering massive landscapes with excellent frame-time stability. Its lighting system uses Sparse Voxel Octree Global Illumination (SVOGI)—a software-based real-time GI solution that delivers realistic light bounce and ambient occlusion without relying on ray tracing.
This efficient, scalable approach is why KCD2 performs so consistently across different hardware tiers.
Graphics Presets Explained
For mid-to-high-end PCs, these are the presets that matter:
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High Preset (Recommended Baseline):
The performance sweet spot. Massive visual improvements over Medium with minimal pop-in and strong environmental detail. -
Ultra Preset:
Further reduces object and shadow pop-in. The jump from High is subtle but noticeable, with increased GPU demand. -
⚠️ Experimental Preset (Use With Caution):
Designed for “future hardware.” Offers only marginal visual gains (mainly extreme draw distance and foliage density) while cutting FPS by 30–50%. Even powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 Super struggle to justify the performance loss.
👉 Verdict: Experimental is not recommended for regular gameplay in 2025.
The Core Strategy: Smart Custom Settings for Maximum FPS
Forget blindly choosing a preset. The best performance gains come from starting at Ultra and selectively lowering only the most demanding settings.
Extensive testing shows that just four settings account for the majority of performance loss. Adjusting these alone can nearly double FPS compared to Experimental, while keeping Ultra-level visuals everywhere else.
High-Impact Settings (Adjust First)
| Setting | Recommended Level | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shadows | Medium | The single biggest FPS drain. Medium offers huge gains with acceptable visual loss |
| Global Illumination | Medium | Major FPS boost with minimal lighting quality loss |
| Vegetation Detail | Medium | Reduces GPU load in forests and open fields |
| Object Quality / LOD | Medium | Best balance of draw distance and performance |
Settings You Can Safely Maximize
If your GPU has 8GB+ VRAM, these settings have minimal FPS impact and greatly improve visual quality:
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Texture Quality: High or Ultra (VRAM dependent)
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Lighting Quality: High or Ultra
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Shader Quality: High or Ultra
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Character Detail: High or Ultra
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Post-Processing: High (bloom, SSAO, subtle effects)
Hardware-Specific Profiles & Expected Performance (2025)
Optimized Settings by Resolution & GPU Tier
| Target & Resolution | Example Hardware | Recommended Setup | Expected Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60+ FPS @ 1080p | RTX 3060 / RX 6700 XT | High preset → Shadows, GI, Vegetation to Medium | 60–75 FPS |
| High Refresh 1440p | RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT | Ultra preset → Shadows Medium/High, GI High | 80–100+ FPS |
| 1440p / 4K Max | RTX 4080 Super / RX 7900 XTX | Ultra + DLSS Quality (1440p) / Balanced (4K) | 100+ FPS @1440p / 60+ FPS @4K |
💡 RAM Tip:
16GB is the minimum. 32GB significantly improves stability in large cities like Kuttenberg.
Essential Advanced Tweaks & System Optimization
1. Mastering Upscaling (DLSS / FSR)
Upscaling is the single most effective FPS boost.
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1080p:
Use DLSS/FSR “Native AA” for the sharpest image and superior anti-aliasing. -
1440p / 4K:
Use Quality or Balanced. DLSS offers the best clarity, but FSR 2.2 performs excellently on AMD and Intel GPUs.
2. Key Windows & In-Game Settings
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Install on SSD (Mandatory):
HDDs cause texture pop-in, streaming delays, and long load times. -
VSync / Frame Cap:
Match your monitor’s refresh rate to eliminate tearing. -
Disable Motion Blur & Film Grain:
Sharper image, less eye strain.
3. Pro Maintenance for Peak Stability
For long-term performance, the modding community recommends:
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Clear Shader Caches:
Delete GPU and game shader caches periodically. -
Use a Safe RAM Cleaner Script:
Clearing standby memory before launching reduces stutter in dense areas.
Conclusion: Perfectly Optimized Bohemia in 2025
Maximizing performance in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn’t about brute-force hardware—it’s about intelligent tuning.
Start with Ultra, lower only the four critical settings (Shadows, GI, Vegetation, Object Quality) to Medium, then confidently max out textures, lighting, and character detail. Pair this with the correct DLSS or FSR mode and ensure the game runs from an SSD.
Follow this approach, and your mid-to-high-end PC will deliver a beautiful, stable, and fluid medieval experience, exactly as Warhorse Studios intended.
💬 What are you targeting—60 FPS, 144Hz, or 4K?
Share your PC specs and results in the comments to help other players fine-tune their journey through Bohemia.
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