The Epic Games Store’s annual holiday advent calendar event concluded with a grand finale, offering PC gamers a free digital copy of the acclaimed historical RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance. This generous giveaway, occurring just a month before the launch of its highly anticipated sequel, provided players with a perfect opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich narrative and engaging gameplay of the original title. The 2024 advent calendar boasted an impressive lineup of free games, ranging from indie gems like Vampire Survivors, Dredge, and Sifu, to triple-A powerhouses such as Control and Ghostrunner 2, cementing the event as one of Epic’s most substantial giveaways to date.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance, released in 2018 to critical acclaim, distinguished itself with its meticulous recreation of medieval Bohemia and its emphasis on realistic combat and player choice. Developed by Warhorse Studios, under the direction of the lead writer from the first two Mafia games, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offered players a story-driven open-world experience where decisions carried tangible weight, influencing the game’s narrative and the reactions of its inhabitants. This intricate tapestry of player agency and consequence drew comparisons to the Witcher series, another celebrated open-world RPG franchise known for its player-driven narrative and dynamic combat.
The free offering of Kingdom Come: Deliverance presented a significant value proposition for players, as the game typically retails for around £27 / $35. This strategic giveaway served as a shrewd marketing tactic for the upcoming sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, scheduled for release on February 4, 2025. By providing players with free access to the original game, Epic Games effectively reintroduced the franchise to a wider audience, generating excitement and anticipation for the imminent sequel. This move was particularly well-timed, capitalizing on the pre-release buzz and positioning the sequel for a strong launch.
Accessing the free game was a simple process, requiring players to either visit the game’s store page on the Epic Games Store website or access it directly through the Epic Games Store Launcher. The launcher, a free application required to play games purchased or acquired through the Epic Games Store, was essential for claiming and playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The limited-time offer concluded on January 2, 2025, paving the way for the next wave of free game offerings, expected to extend over a week rather than a single day. This transition marked the end of the daily advent calendar giveaways and the beginning of a new promotional phase for the Epic Games Store.
The pre-release giveaway of Kingdom Come: Deliverance represented a savvy marketing maneuver, capitalizing on the growing anticipation for its sequel. While pre-release sales for earlier games in a series are common practice, offering a full game completely free of charge is a less frequent occurrence. This strategic move not only introduced a new wave of players to the Kingdom Come: Deliverance universe but also served as a potent promotional tool for the upcoming sequel, slated to be a major release in early 2025. The giveaway effectively primed the audience, generating excitement and buzz surrounding the sequel’s launch.
Epic Games’ decision to offer Kingdom Come: Deliverance for free served as a dual-purpose strategy: it rewarded loyal Epic Games Store users with a high-quality title while also strategically promoting the upcoming sequel. This approach benefited both players, who gained access to a critically acclaimed RPG without cost, and the developers, who witnessed a surge in interest and anticipation for their upcoming release. The timing of the giveaway was crucial, ensuring that the franchise remained at the forefront of gamers’ minds leading up to the launch of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This clever marketing tactic underscored the effectiveness of leveraging pre-release giveaways to generate hype and expand the player base for anticipated sequels.
