Kingdom Come 3: Why the Series’ DLC Should Keep Expanding Side Content
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was among the standout games of 2025, and since launch it has received three DLC packs that broaden what you can do while roaming Bohemia. Even if those add-ons aren’t required for completing the main narrative, they add meaningful side content—something the series’ earlier entry also leaned on with its own post-launch expansions. Now that Kingdom Come 3 has been confirmed, Warhorse Studios may need to rethink how it handles gameplay systems that players clearly enjoy.
Key takeaways
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has released three DLCs since launch, all expanding activities in Bohemia.
- Legacy of the Forge adds blacksmithing-focused RPG and customization features, while From the Ashes introduced settlement-building in the first game.
- Warhorse’s DLC strategy has drawn frustration because some players feel these mechanics should be included from the start rather than locked behind paywalls.
- Player reception for the series’ DLC has been mixed, even when critics generally reviewed the expansions more favorably.
- Warhorse is also working on an open-world Lord of the Rings RPG alongside Kingdom Come 3.
Why Warhorse’s DLC approach feels risky for Kingdom Come 3
Each Kingdom Come DLC focuses on different themes, but the pattern across the first two games is similar: both added extra RPG-style systems that some players feel should have been part of the core experience. Legacy of the Forge pushes Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 toward a blacksmithing-heavy “life sim” vibe by introducing customization alongside new crafting gameplay. Meanwhile, From the Ashes brought a settlement-building side activity to the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Not everyone wants that kind of simulation layer, but if the series wants to deliver variety, those options likely need to show up from the beginning in Kingdom Come 3.
Warhorse Studios has also been sharing new mini-figure reveals tied to the open-world RPG. These small collectibles add to the visibility of the franchise between major releases and updates.
For a studio known for immersion, it’s odd to put life sim features behind extra purchases
A key reason the Kingdom Come series has earned attention is its commitment to realism. The first game made a strong impression, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 raised the ceiling, standing out as one of the best medieval life sim experiences many players can sink time into. Expansions like From the Ashes and Legacy of the Forge only deepen that identity—so it feels inconsistent that Warhorse didn’t fold those systems into the base game as optional side activities that are available automatically.
Base-building and other “slow down and live in the world” mechanics are exactly the kind of content a large chunk of the audience digs into. Keeping that content behind a post-launch paywall can feel frustrating, particularly because there are players who would happily spend hours with these systems right away—especially in a game that sells immersion and the idea that you’re choosing how to live your medieval life. At the moment, there aren’t many concrete details about Kingdom Come 3, but the next chapter could be a chance for Warhorse to rethink how DLC is structured.
Mixed player reactions make DLC-only life sim systems feel less worth it
While Legacy of the Forge and From the Ashes have generally done well with many critics, the player response hasn’t always been as positive. On storefront review pages such as Steam, feedback can come across as more uneven. This is, of course, subjective—but the core complaint is consistent: building new mechanics and then releasing them as paid DLC that doesn’t land as strongly as expected can make the whole effort feel disconnected from player demand. If the goal is to deliver these features, it arguably makes more sense to include them in the main game so players can encounter the systems naturally and decide whether they want to invest time in them.
Kingdom Come 3 could be the moment to shake up the series
When Warhorse announced a new Kingdom Come game, the studio avoided using the “Deliverance” branding that has appeared in the last two titles. Instead, Warhorse referred to it as a “new Kingdom Come adventure.” It’s too early to know what that wording will mean for the final product, but it could be pointing toward a meaningful departure from the structure and focus of the previous two games.
Life sim expansions aren’t going to appeal to every player, but the argument here is that this style of content needs to be present from the start in Kingdom Come 3.
One obvious possibility is that the next entry doesn’t follow Henry at all. A spin-off direction would be logical, especially given how quickly Warhorse appears to be moving between projects. Kingdom Come 3 doesn’t have a public release date yet, but it has been confirmed that the developer is targeting its 2027 fiscal year. That window could translate to a launch anywhere from spring 2027 through spring 2028. With such a tight turnaround between installments, expectations may shift toward a smaller-scale game compared with Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
If Kingdom Come 3 ends up being a more compact entry, it could also serve as a good opportunity to bake life sim elements into the main experience from day one rather than saving them for DLC. Blacksmithing and base-building systems could offer hours of side content, helping a smaller game feel more substantial in both playtime and value. Of course, a reduced scope could disappoint fans hoping for another massive world, but strong side hobbies can still make the overall package feel larger than its footprint suggests.
Kingdom Come 3 isn’t Warhorse’s only project in development. The studio is also building an open-world Lord of the Rings RPG. Specific details remain under wraps, but the choice of setting and style fits Warhorse’s strengths in immersive worlds.
The countdown to learn what Warhorse is cooking next for Kingdom Come is officially underway. There are a surprising number of cozy features in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and including even more of those qualities in the base game could have helped them stand out sooner. With both the gameplay and story in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 improving on an already strong predecessor, it’ll be interesting to see how Kingdom Come 3 pushes the franchise forward.
