Chivalry 2 – the long-awaited sequel to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare – finally has an official release date! According to an announcement from developer Torn Banner, Chivalry 2 will release on June 8 on PC via the Epic Games Store.
The game will also be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, and PS5. Cross-play between platforms will be supported at launch.
There will also be a closed beta available to PC players that pre-order the game that’s scheduled to run from March 26 until March 29.
Chivalry 2 Gets a Confirmed Release Date
It’s wild to think that Chivalry: Medieval Warfare released nearly a decade ago. On the surface, the game boasted violent, intricate multiplayer skirmishes in a classic medieval setting. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that Chivalry also offered something unique within the confines of its bloody battlefield… actual chivalry.
I remember with fondness the time spent playing free-for-all matches and forming bonds with random strangers, agreeing not to attack each other with a simple bow and some voice prompt spam. Sometimes I’d go around not killing anyone at all, I’d just run around screaming.
It wasn’t always a multiplayer match devolving into random chaos, though. I also remember the custom servers players would set up that served as a sort of training ground for those looking to learn new moves and test their skills 1v1 against pro players. Like all online communities, there were toxic players that would come in and try and provoke others.
However, Chivalry had a great self-moderation system where you could initiate a Vote Kick. If a large enough percentage of players in that match agreed that the person needed to be booted, they’d vote yes and if the vote passed, the offending player would be immediately removed.
It’s hard to say whether we’ll see these informal traditions continue in the highly polished Chivalry 2. One concern players of the original have is that Chivalry 2 already breaks with one tradition in releasing on the Epic Games Store rather than Steam.
The original Chivalry was very much a “Steam” game and its community often reflected that. Chivalry 2 will also offer controller support, and the aforementioned cross-play between platforms, so it’s hard to say how balanced things will be between PC players and those playing on console.
Of course, I imagine all of these things have been taken into account by Torn Banner, so I put my trust in them and hope to see the game succeed on all levels.
The biggest question mark that’s harder to address on a development level is how new players, ones who never touched Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, will approach Chivalry 2 if they find themselves curious enough to give it a go.
There’s a sharp, competitive edge to Chivalry that might cause new players to approach the game more seriously than the original. Adding to this, the way the core game itself is played hasn’t changed much.
While some of the more egregious moves found in the original like the ballerina spin have been addressed, you can still use weapon drag, you can still feint. There’s a complexity to the game’s combat.
And yes, weapons like the infamous Zweihander will return in Chivalry 2 (to my own personal delight honestly, I loved the Zwei).
It’s inevitable that incredibly skilled players will emerge in Chivalry 2 just as they did in Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, and there will inevitably be competition whether official or unofficial between these players.
Will there be a balance between those looking to be the very best in Chivalry 2 and those who just want to go around throwing chickens at people? I don’t know, but I certainly hope so because I personally enjoy both approaches to Chivalry.
It’s worth noting that at PAX East 2020 (before the world went to hell) I was able to demo Chivalry 2 and was delighted by what I saw in terms of gameplay. The old feelings of competitiveness mixed with courtesy came back immediately as I eagerly fought enemy players, but avoided grouping up on enemies that were clearly overwhelmed.
I also made sure to give my teammates room for their fights to ensure they were enjoying the game as much as I was. And despite the fact that many of the gamers who took part in the demo had never played the original Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, I saw that edge of unspoken kindness start to creep up again.
Perhaps it was my own wishful thinking in seeing that, or perhaps Chivalry 2 retains some of the magic that made the original such a delight to play. No matter what the case may be, I’m excited to dig into Chivalry 2 when it’s available on June 8… or perhaps even sooner.
If you’re like me and are impatient to get a feel for the game, you can gain access to a closed beta weekend on PC (March 26-29) by pre-ordering a digital copy of the game. As an added bonus, you’ll also get a special “Royal Zweihander” when you pre-order, and the design looks absolutely gorgeous.
I want it, I need it, I must have it.
Furthermore, there are two editions available for pre-order: the Standard Edition and the Special Edition.
With the Special Edition, you’ll get access to the closed PC beta, the Royal Zweihander, along with other in-game goodies like the Agatha Jousting Knight Armor and Royal Broadsword, the Mason Jousting Knight Armor, the Gold Horseman’s Axe, Roses novelty item, and more.
The Standard Edition is priced at $39.99 (USD) while the Special Edition comes in at $10 more at $49.99 (USD). You can view both over on the store page for Chivalry 2 on the Epic Games Store.
For more information about pre-ordering Chivalry 2, the closed PC beta, and pre-order bonuses, head over to the official Chivalry 2 website.
Chivalry 2 will release on June 8 for PC via the Epic Games Store, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
