Black Myth: Zhong Kui vs Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Mythological Tang Dynasty China
• Platforms: PC and all other mainstream console platforms
• Release Window: TBA (Estimated 2028 or later)
• Unique Feature: A new entry in the 'Black Myth' saga based on the Chinese mythological figure Zhong Kui, the 'demon queller', promising a unique blend of historical setting and ghost-style horror combat.

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: 15th Century Bohemia (Czech Republic)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Unique Feature: An uncompromising focus on historical accuracy and realism within a deep, choice-driven, open-world RPG framework.

• Tiger: The teaser trailer shows Zhong Kui riding a tiger, suggesting that he may have an animal companion for traversal and possibly combat.
  Mythical Animal
• Captured Demons (Speculative): As a 'ghost-catching god,' it's possible that Zhong Kui could temporarily command the demons he has captured to fight alongside him.
  Demonic

• Mutt (Dog): Henry's loyal dog companion, who can be commanded to attack enemies, hunt for game, and find points of interest. His presence can be customized through perks.
  Canine
• Sir Hans Capon: While not a permanent follower, Hans accompanies Henry on numerous main and side quests, fighting alongside him and providing narrative context and banter.
  Human

• Captured Souls: Defeated ghosts and demons. These could serve as a currency for upgrading abilities or as lore entries in a bestiary.
• Calligraphy Scrolls: Hidden scrolls showcasing Zhong Kui's mastery of calligraphy. These could provide lore, unlock new skills, or offer buffs.

• Ancient Maps: Torn map fragments that, when pieced together, lead to hidden treasures buried throughout Bohemia.
• Codex Entries: Unlocked by discovering new locations, talking to people, and reading books. These entries fill out an in-game encyclopedia with detailed, historically accurate information about 15th-century life.

• Chinese Mythology
• Dark Fantasy
• Soulslike
• Action RPG
• Folklore
• Supernatural
• Horror

• Historical Realism
• Medieval Europe
• Civil War
• Revenge
• Coming of Age
• Social Mobility
• Player Choice
• Consequence
• Open World
• Immersive Simulation

• The Underworld Sword: Magical Sword
  Zhong Kui's signature weapon, bestowed upon him by Yama, King of Hell. It is forged in the fires of the underworld and is capable of vanquishing powerful demons.
• Martial Arts: Unarmed
  Zhong Kui is a master of martial arts, suggesting that unarmed combat and various hand-to-hand techniques will be a viable part of his moveset.

• Swords: Shortswords, Longswords, Hunting Swords
  Versatile melee weapons balanced for slashing and stabbing. The core of the game's complex melee combat system.
• Axes & Maces: Battle Axes, War Hammers
  Blunt and heavy weapons that are highly effective against heavily armored opponents, capable of crushing plate armor where swords might fail.
• Polearms: Spears, Halberds
  Long-reaching weapons ideal for keeping enemies at a distance and for combat against cavalry. Cannot be stored in inventory.
• Bows: Hunting Bows, Longbows
  Ranged weapons requiring skill to aim due to the lack of a crosshair. Used for hunting and stealthy combat.
• Crossbows: New Weapon Type
  A new addition to the sequel. Crossbows are easier to aim than bows and offer powerful bolts but have a slower reload time. They can be fired from horseback.
• Early Firearms: New Weapon Type
  Another new addition. Early, primitive hand cannons provide a loud and powerful but highly inaccurate ranged option, reflecting the dawn of gunpowder warfare.

• Scholar's Robe: The iconic attire of Zhong Kui, representing his past life as a scholar. Players will likely be able to find and equip different sets of armor inspired by the Tang Dynasty and mythological designs, providing various defensive stats and bonuses.

• Layered Armor System: Features a deep, 16-slot armor system where players can layer different types of protection. A typical setup might include a gambeson (padded cloth), followed by a mail hauberk, and finally a plate cuirass, each providing defense against different damage types.
• Light Armor: Includes leather jerkins, padded gambesons, and other lighter gear. Offers less protection but is quieter, making it ideal for stealth.
• Heavy Armor: Consists of mail chausses, plate armor (cuirasses, pauldrons, helmets). Provides maximum protection against most attacks but is heavy, noisy, and can be visually intimidating to NPCs.

• Historical & Mythological Attire: Players can be expected to unlock and equip various outfits for Zhong Kui, from his traditional scholar's robes to more ornate, divine armor befitting his role as a demon queller.

• Civilian and Noble Attire: A wide variety of non-armor clothing, from peasant rags to ornate noble doublets. What Henry wears significantly impacts his charisma and how different social classes of NPCs react to him.
• Reputation-Based Clothing: Wearing the tabard of a specific town or lord can grant benefits within that region but may cause hostility in rival territories. Armor and clothing get dirty and bloody, affecting appearance and reputation until cleaned.

As a Soulslike ARPG, players can expect a deep progression system. Zhong Kui's abilities will revolve around his mastery of martial arts and his new demonic powers. Upgrades will likely be tied to his magical sword, forged in the underworld, and his ability to see and capture different types of ghosts and demons.

The game retains the classless 'you are what you do' progression system. Skills like Swords, Archery, Alchemy, and Reading improve with use. The sequel deepens this with an expanded perk system. Dialogue skills have been expanded from three to six attributes (Oratory, Charisma, Intimidation, Appearance, Coercion, Dominate). New weapon skills for Crossbows and Firearms have been added. The crime and reputation system is more dynamic and has lasting consequences.

The game will take place across both the mortal realm, specifically Tang Dynasty China, and the underworld (Hell). The structure of the world has not yet been detailed but is expected to feature a mix of historical locations and mythological realms.

The game world is approximately twice the size of its predecessor and is composed of two large, distinct maps. The first is the Bohemian Paradise, a scenic area known for its forests and the iconic Trosky Castle. The second, and larger, map is centered around the massive, realistically recreated medieval city of Kuttenberg (Kutná Hora), one of the richest cities in Europe at the time due to its silver mines.

• Zhong Kui: Playable Protagonist
  A brilliant scholar with a fierce appearance who, after a tragic end, becomes a powerful deity tasked with hunting ghosts and demons.
• Yama: Key NPC / The King of Hell
  The judge of the underworld who recognizes Zhong Kui's righteous soul and grants him his new powers and purpose.

• Henry of Skalitz: Playable Protagonist
  The son of a blacksmith, now squire to Sir Hans Capon. Henry's journey continues as he seeks revenge and finds his place in a war-torn kingdom.
• Sir Hans Capon: Ally / Lord
  The charismatic and adventurous young lord of Rattay and Henry's best friend. Their relationship and shared adventures are a central part of the game.
• Sir Radzig Kobyla: Ally / Father
  A respected nobleman, leader of the resistance against Sigismund, and Henry's biological father. He acts as a key commander and mentor.
• Istvan Toth: Antagonist
  A Hungarian lord and ally of King Sigismund who led the attack on Skalitz. Recovering his father's sword from Toth is a primary motivation for Henry.
• Katherine: Love Interest
  A new character in the sequel who serves as a potential love interest for Henry, with her own storyline and quests.

• The Journey of Zhong Kui
  A cinematic campaign that will retell the classic folk story of Zhong Kui, from his life as a brilliant but scorned scholar in the Tang Dynasty to his transformation into a powerful guardian of the mortal and spirit realms.

• Main Quest
  A five-act story that follows Henry's quest for revenge against King Sigismund's forces while navigating a large-scale civil war, culminating in an epic conclusion to his character arc.
• Side Quests
  A vast number of optional quests involving everything from solving local disputes and investigating crimes to going on drunken misadventures with Sir Hans Capon. These quests are known for their depth and multiple solutions.
• Activities
  Repeatable activities like participating in archery contests and tourneys, hunting game in the forests, playing dice in taverns, and clearing out bandit camps.

• Q: What is Black Myth: Zhong Kui?
  A: It is the next single-player action RPG from Game Science, the developers of Black Myth: Wukong. It is a new story in the 'Black Myth' saga, focusing on the Chinese mythological figure Zhong Kui, the demon queller.
• Q: Is this a sequel to Black Myth: Wukong?
  A: No, it is a completely separate game with a new protagonist and story. However, it exists within the same universe of Chinese mythology. The developers have suggested that a Wukong sequel or DLC could still happen in the future.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: There is no official release date or window. The game was just announced at Gamescom 2025 and is in very early development. It is not expected for at least three to four years.
• Q: What kind of gameplay can we expect?
  A: It will be a Soulslike action RPG, similar to Black Myth: Wukong, but is expected to feature 'horror or ghost-style combat' and new mechanics centered around Zhong Kui's role as a vanquisher of evil spirits.

• Q: Do I need to play the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance?
  A: While the game includes a recap, it is highly recommended to play the first game as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a direct sequel that continues Henry's story and builds upon established relationships and plot points.
• Q: Is the combat the same as the first game?
  A: The core of the challenging, directional combat system is the same, but it has been refined and made more accessible to newcomers without losing its depth. The addition of crossbows and early firearms provides new combat options.
• Q: How realistic is the game?
  A: The game is renowned for its dedication to historical accuracy. The developers worked with historians and museums to recreate the arms, armor, architecture, and societal structure of 15th-century Bohemia as faithfully as possible.
• Q: Is it still a very difficult game?
  A: It retains the challenge of the original, especially in the early game, but Warhorse Studios has stated they have made the onboarding process smoother for new players. A post-launch 'Hardcore Mode' provides an even greater challenge for veterans.

The UI maintains the immersive, diegetic-focused design of the original. Key information is presented with period-appropriate aesthetics. The map is a hand-drawn representation of the world, and the codex is presented as an illuminated manuscript. A 'Hardcore Mode' was added post-launch for players wanting a more challenging, UI-minimal experience.

• ENTIRELY SPECULATIVE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As the game is in very early development, these are hypothetical projections for a future next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5. They do not represent official information.
• Laptop Performance Note: A future title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, such as Lumen and Nanite.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Next-gen games will require laptops with cutting-edge cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and sustain performance during intense, visually-demanding boss fights.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of demonic entities and the physics of a detailed world.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness in the skill-based combat.
• Game Name: Black Myth: Zhong Kui

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This information is based on the official PC specifications from the game's Steam store page and other official sources, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As a visually detailed open-world game using an updated CryEngine, the requirements are significant, especially for higher settings. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated based on performance benchmarks.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. For a demanding open-world game like KCD2, a laptop with a high-TGP GPU and excellent cooling will be crucial to avoid performance drops in dense areas like cities.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: A high TGP is essential. A low-power variant of a recommended GPU may struggle to maintain stable framerates, especially in graphically intensive scenarios like large-scale battles.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The CryEngine can heavily tax both the CPU and GPU. A robust cooling system is necessary to prevent thermal throttling during long gameplay sessions and maintain smooth performance in CPU-heavy towns.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: The game simulates many complex systems and NPCs, making a strong CPU with good power delivery important for a stable experience, particularly for maintaining minimum frame rates.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize latency and ensure the GPU's full performance is utilized, which is important for the game's first-person combat.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game officially supports NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR at launch. Given the demanding nature of the game, using these technologies is highly recommended to achieve stable framerates, especially at resolutions above 1080p.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Settings related to shadows, object detail, physics, and vegetation will likely have the most significant impact on performance. The game's complex NPC and environmental simulation will also be demanding on the CPU in populated areas.
• Game Name: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

• Upscaling Tech: The game officially supports NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR at launch. Given the demanding nature of the game, using these technologies is highly recommended to achieve stable framerates, especially at resolutions above 1080p.
• Key Settings Impact: Settings related to shadows, object detail, physics, and vegetation will likely have the most significant impact on performance. The game's complex NPC and environmental simulation will also be demanding on the CPU in populated areas.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, such as Lumen and Nanite.
• Cooling Thermals: Next-gen games will require laptops with cutting-edge cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and sustain performance during intense, visually-demanding boss fights.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of demonic entities and the physics of a detailed world.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness in the skill-based combat.

• G P U T G P: A high TGP is essential. A low-power variant of a recommended GPU may struggle to maintain stable framerates, especially in graphically intensive scenarios like large-scale battles.
• Cooling Thermals: The CryEngine can heavily tax both the CPU and GPU. A robust cooling system is necessary to prevent thermal throttling during long gameplay sessions and maintain smooth performance in CPU-heavy towns.
• C P U Power Limits: The game simulates many complex systems and NPCs, making a strong CPU with good power delivery important for a stable experience, particularly for maintaining minimum frame rates.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize latency and ensure the GPU's full performance is utilized, which is important for the game's first-person combat.