Kingmakers' Launch Delayed: Quality Over Hype for Time-Traveling Epic

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

The highly anticipated, genre-blending epic, Kingmakers, has officially pumped the brakes on its charge into the past. Developer Redemption Road Games confirmed that the time-traveling shooter and strategy hybrid, originally slated for a 2024 Early Access launch, has been delayed.

In a refreshingly transparent statement posted in late February 2025, the studio explained the decision stems from a deep-seated commitment to quality, stating they simply need "more time before we feel good about charging money for it."

A Calculated Pause for the Viral Sensation

Kingmakers stormed onto the scene in early 2024 with a trailer that instantly captured the imagination of gamers worldwide. The premise was as audacious as it was brilliant: a modern-day operative travels back to a war-torn medieval England armed with assault rifles, pickup trucks, and attack helicopters to single-handedly alter the course of history. The chaotic blend of third-person shooting with large-scale, real-time strategy promised a sandbox of anachronistic warfare, and the game rapidly became one of the most wishlisted titles on Steam.

After the initial 2024 release window passed, community speculation grew. The development team addressed this directly in their official announcement, confirming the delay. While disappointing for eager fans, the reasoning provided by Redemption Road highlights a pro-consumer stance that resonates strongly. The core message was clear: the game, in its current state, did not meet the internal standard of quality the team set for a product they would sell, especially after the "viral success of our announcement trailer has... set a very high bar for us to meet." This postpones the Early Access release indefinitely, with no new target window provided.

A Commitment to Quality Over Deadlines

The developer's statement is a significant and welcome departure from the industry trend of rushing games to market. Phrases like needing "more time before we feel good about charging money for it" land with particular force in a landscape often criticized for troubled launches and massive day-one patches. By prioritizing the player experience over a premature release, Redemption Road is making a calculated bet that community goodwill and a more polished final product will ultimately lead to greater, more sustainable success.

This decision shows the team is acutely aware of the immense expectations that followed their viral marketing triumph. A game with such a unique and compelling hook carries the burden of delivering on that promise. A buggy or feature-incomplete Early Access launch could have squandered the massive momentum the title has built. Instead, the studio is opting for a period of extended development to ensure its ambitious mechanics work in harmony and the game is stable, robust, and, most importantly, fun.

The Monumental Challenge of Blending Genres

The delay also underscores the inherent complexity of Kingmakers' design. This isn't just a shooter with a medieval skin; it's a true hybrid of two distinct, demanding genres. On one hand, it requires polished, responsive third-person shooting mechanics that can stand on their own. On the other, it features a deep real-time strategy layer where players can instantly switch to a top-down view to command hundreds of medieval soldiers, direct cavalry charges, and position archers amidst modern-day explosions.

Successfully merging these two systems into a seamless and intuitive experience is a monumental task. Ensuring the AI for both friend and foe is intelligent, that performance holds up during massive battles where helicopters strafe-run sword-wielding infantry, and that the progression systems are engaging are all significant development hurdles. The need for more time is a direct result of the team's ambition to get this complex formula exactly right, rather than settling for a compromised version of their vision.

What's Next for Kingmakers?

An "indefinite delay" can often be a worrying sign, but in this context, it appears to be a reaffirmation of the project's goals. Redemption Road has assured its community that development continues in earnest, and they have maintained communication through updates on their Steam page. This indefinite timeline simply removes the pressure of an impending deadline, allowing the team to focus entirely on solving problems and polishing the experience.

While fans will have to wait longer to bring a grenade launcher to a sword fight, the developer's transparent and quality-focused approach suggests that their patience will be rewarded. When Kingmakers does finally arrive, it promises to be an invasion worth waiting for.