Introduction

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, released on February 4, 2025, has taken the RPG world by storm, selling over 2 million copies in two weeks and earning a 93% “Very Positive” rating on Steam with over 70,000 reviews. Warhorse Studios’ sequel to the 2018 medieval epic immerses players in 15th-century Bohemia, following Henry of Skalitz as he battles King Sigismund’s forces in a civil war. With a script surpassing 2.2 million words—eclipsing Baldur’s Gate 3’s record—and a world twice the size of its predecessor, the game has captivated fans with its realism, storytelling, and open-world depth. Now, just months after launch, the first story DLC, Brushes with Death, is reportedly set for a May 2025 release, promising to expand Henry’s journey with a mysterious artist and perilous quests. This article delves into the DLC’s details, fan anticipation, and its role in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s ambitious 2025 roadmap.

The Triumph of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 builds on the original’s cult success, which sold 8 million units by November 2024. Set in 1403 Bohemia, the sequel follows Henry (voiced by Tom McKay), a blacksmith’s son turned man-at-arms, serving Sir Radzig Kobyla (Michael Pitthan) in a resistance against Sigismund (George Lenz). The game’s two maps—Trosky’s lush countryside and Kuttenberg’s bustling silver-mining city—offer 80–100 hours of gameplay, with completionists pushing past 150 hours. Its first-person combat, refined with crossbows and early firearms, and skills like Oratory, Charisma, and new additions like Coercion, deliver unmatched immersion. Critics, including IGN (9/10) and PCGamesN (9/10), praise its “Hollywood-blockbuster” narrative and “ludicrously ambitious” systems, likening it to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind for its depth.

The game topped Steam’s top-sellers list on launch day, peaking at 256,206 concurrent players, surpassing Skyrim’s record. Its Gold Edition, including the “Shields of Seasons Passing” expansion pass, accounted for 47% of its $64.6 million February revenue, signaling strong DLC interest. Warhorse’s commitment to realism—dynamic NPC routines, crime consequences, and historical accuracy—has resonated, despite controversies over diversity and developer Daniel Vávra’s anti-“woke” stance. With free updates like Hardcore Mode and a barber shop already live, the stage is set for Brushes with Death to elevate the experience.

Brushes with Death: What We Know

Warhorse Studios announced a 2025 roadmap featuring three story DLCs: Brushes with Death (summer), Legacy of the Forge (autumn), and Mysteria Ecclesiae (winter), included in the Gold Edition’s expansion pass ($29.99). On April 11, 2025, Warhorse teased that Brushes with Death would be playable at Prague Comic-Con, with PR Manager Tobi Stolz-Zwilling responding “May” to a fan’s DLC ETA query on X, suggesting a May 2025 release. This aligns with executive producer Martin Klíma’s Prague Comic-Con comments, where he revealed 35 cut quests were given “DLC status” for future updates, hinting that Brushes with Death may revive some of this content.

Brushes with Death centers on Henry aiding a “mysterious artist with an enigmatic past,” facing “perilous encounters” and unraveling “a web of dangerous schemes.” A roadmap trailer showed an artist with a painted skull, suggesting a dark, possibly occult narrative. Unlike the pre-order DLC The Lion’s Crest, a $4.99 treasure hunt for Knight Brunswick’s armor released March 28, 2025, Brushes with Death promises a “lengthy questline,” likely 5–10 hours based on the original game’s From the Ashes DLC. The expansion may explore Kuttenberg’s cultural scene, given its silver-mining wealth and historical art patronage, potentially tying to Henry’s diplomatic skills like Coercion or Appearance.

Why Now? The Timing and Hype

The rapid rollout of Brushes with Death reflects Warhorse’s strategy to sustain Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s momentum, mirroring the first game’s successful blend of free and paid content. The original Kingdom Come released From the Ashes, The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon, Band of Bastards, and A Woman’s Lot within 18 months, alongside free updates like Hardcore Mode and tournaments, extending its lifespan to 8 million sales. KCD2’s spring 2025 free updates—barber customization, horse racing, and Hardcore Mode with mandatory negative perks and no fast travel—have kept players engaged, with Hardcore Mode’s April 15 release “tearing players a new one,” per TheGamer.

The May DLC timing capitalizes on KCD2’s 2.5 million monthly active users (MAU) in February 2025, 69% on PC, and high engagement (204 minutes/day average playtime), outpacing Avowed and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The Gold Edition’s popularity, with nearly half of digital revenue, shows fans’ appetite for expansions. Warhorse’s decision to preview Brushes with Death at Comic-Con, alongside a 1.2 update with “34 pages of patch notes,” demonstrates confidence in delivering polished content, countering launch bugs like save corruption reported on Reddit.

What to Expect: Story and Gameplay

Brushes with Death is poised to deepen KCD2’s narrative and mechanics. The “mysterious artist” suggests a questline blending intrigue and role-playing, possibly involving Kuttenberg’s elite or a heretical sect, given Bohemia’s Hussite tensions. The painted skull imagery hints at themes of mortality or forbidden knowledge, aligning with the roadmap’s “dangerous schemes.” Fans on X speculate the artist could be a historical figure like Master Theodoric, a 14th-century Bohemian painter, or a fictional character tied to Sigismund’s court, offering Henry diplomatic or combat challenges.

Gameplay may emphasize KCD2’s new skills—Appearance for social deception or Coercion for interrogations—alongside stealth or swordplay. The DLC could introduce unique mechanics, like deciphering coded artwork or crafting disguises, building on KCD2’s alchemy and smithing systems. Given Warhorse’s realism focus, expect authentic period details, such as illuminated manuscripts or guild rivalries, integrated into quests. The expansion may also revive cut content, like Klíma’s mentioned Dracula-kidnapping quest, adding quirky historical fiction to Henry’s arc.

Compared to The Lion’s Crest, a short treasure hunt, Brushes with Death will likely mirror From the Ashes’ scope, offering a self-contained story with lasting rewards, such as a unique weapon or armor set. Its integration with KCD2’s world—where NPC reactions shift based on Henry’s reputation—ensures choices impact the broader campaign, a hallmark of Warhorse’s design.

Fan Expectations and Controversies

The KCD2 community is abuzz with anticipation for Brushes with Death, but expectations are high. Reddit threads on r/KingdomCome express hope for a “meaningful” expansion, with users like u/BohemianBlade wanting deeper ties to Henry’s story, such as marriage options with Theresa or Lady Rosa, or rebuilding settlements like Suchdoll, akin to From the Ashes. Others, per a Fextralife forum, criticize the first game’s shorter DLCs, like Band of Bastards, and demand 10+ hours of content. The artist-focused narrative has sparked intrigue, with X posts from @KCD2Lore theorizing links to Henry’s adoptive father, Martin, though some fear it introduces “random” characters over familiar ones like Hans Capon.

Controversies linger from KCD2’s launch, including Vávra’s anti-“woke” comments and debates over racial diversity, which resurfaced on X after Yasuke’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows controversy. While KCD2’s historical accuracy—consulted by Czech historians—earns praise, some fans on Reddit argue for more diverse NPCs, like Jewish merchants, to reflect Bohemia’s melting pot. Warhorse’s focus on DLC and free updates, like Hardcore Mode’s bald representation, aims to shift focus to gameplay, but Brushes with Death must deliver to quell lingering discontent.

Challenges and Development Context

Warhorse faces technical and creative challenges with Brushes with Death. KCD2’s launch saw bugs, including save corruption and NPC pathfinding issues, addressed in the 1.2 update. The DLC must avoid similar glitches, especially on consoles, where PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players report frame-rate dips in Kuttenberg. The CryEngine, heavily modified for KCD2, supports stunning visuals but demands optimization, as seen in the Series S’s 30 FPS lock. Warhorse’s small team—250 developers versus Baldur’s Gate 3’s 400—must balance DLC quality with ongoing patches, a feat achieved in KCD1 but tested by KCD2’s larger scope.

Creatively, the DLC must integrate with KCD2’s 2.2 million-word script, voiced by talents like McKay and Luke Dale (Hans Capon). Klíma’s comment about pre-recorded lines suggests Brushes with Death leverages existing assets, but new characters require fresh voice work, potentially straining budgets. The expansion’s length and replayability are critical, as fans on Fextralife decry KCD1 DLCs like Amorous Adventures for limited impact. Warhorse’s promise of “lengthier questlines” aims to address this, but execution will determine its success.

The Broader KCD2 Roadmap

Brushes with Death is the first of three 2025 DLCs, each expanding Henry’s story:

Legacy of the Forge (autumn 2025): Henry restores Kuttenberg’s forge, mastering blacksmithing and exploring his adoptive father Martin’s legacy, likely tying to KCD2’s crafting mechanics.

Mysteria Ecclesiae (winter 2025): Henry investigates a deadly illness at Sedletz Monastery, echoing KCD1’s monastery quest with stealth and moral choices.

These DLCs, part of the “Shields of Seasons Passing” pass, follow free spring updates, including horse racing and a barber shop, enhancing customization. Warhorse’s roadmap, praised by PCGamesN for ambition, mirrors KCD1’s model, where From the Ashes added village-building. Fans on Reddit hope for similar mechanics, like rebuilding Mezholes or expanding Bara’s bathhouse, but Warhorse has not confirmed settlement-building for KCD2. The studio’s focus on story-driven DLCs, rather than systemic expansions, aligns with KCD2’s narrative strengths, with over 5 hours of cutscenes.

The Elder Scrolls and RPG Landscape

The Oblivion remake, set for 2027, looms as a competitor, with its Unreal Engine 5 visuals and modernized combat. KCD2’s CryEngine, while gorgeous, faces scrutiny for performance, and Brushes with Death must showcase technical polish to rival Bethesda’s offering. Unlike Oblivion’s fantasy, KCD2’s historical realism—consulted by Prague historians—carves a unique niche, appealing to fans of Mount & Blade or Medieval Dynasty. Baldur’s Gate 3’s modding success and The Witcher 4’s Ciri-focused story add pressure, but KCD2’s 204-minute daily playtime and 2.5 million MAU prove its staying power.

Warhorse’s DLC strategy, blending free updates and paid quests, contrasts Baldur’s Gate 3’s free patches and Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ multi-sell controversy. By offering Hardcore Mode and barber customization first, Warhorse ensures all players benefit, while Brushes with Death targets Gold Edition buyers, who drove 47% of revenue. This approach, lauded by GameRant, positions KCD2 to sustain engagement through 2025, potentially surpassing KCD1’s 8 million sales.

Conclusion

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s first story DLC, Brushes with Death, set for a potential May 2025 release, promises to deepen Henry’s saga with a mysterious artist and perilous quests. Following KCD2’s record-breaking launch—2 million copies sold, 256,206 Steam players, and $64.6 million in revenue—the DLC arrives at a peak of fan enthusiasm, amplified by free updates like Hardcore Mode. While challenges like technical polish and fan expectations loom, Warhorse’s roadmap, rooted in KCD1’s success, positions Brushes with Death as a pivotal expansion. As Henry ventures into Kuttenberg’s shadows, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 continues to redefine medieval RPGs, proving Bohemia’s saga is far from over.