TaleWorlds has detailed its Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord 1.0 plans, explaining what it has in store for the future of the game and revealing a release window for leaving Early Access.
Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord has been out for over a year and TaleWorlds Entertainment has been working hard on this medieval RPG, most recently with the launch of Update 1.6.0. Now, it appears that TaleWorlds has hit a point where it's comfortable to start talking about launching the full version of the game and leaving Steam Early Access.
The Future of Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord
TaleWorlds opens up the conversation about the road to Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord 1.0 by going over a bit of history, detailing the updates and changes that have been made to the game over the last 16 months. It also talks a bit of business — the company will not be going to Gamescom and the developers are starting to physically return to the studio now that they've been vaccinated.
Going forward, TaleWorlds will spend the "short to medium term" focusing on Bannerlord's singleplayer gameplay. The "Battle Terrain System" revealed earlier this year is progressing nicely and TaleWorlds has added a bunch of new battle maps behind the scenes. However, it notes that the scale of this project is so large that we can expect to see further additions to this system beyond its initial release as development progresses.
The world will also feel a little more medieval with the addition of Banner Bearers, soldiers who will carry your standard into battle. These soldiers will also have a gameplay effect on combat. Your Companions, too, are getting a new feature in the future: you'll be able to elevate them to nobility if you so choose.
As you live the life of a warrior, you'll also experience quite a few important events. These are currently explained via text, but TaleWorlds is working on cutscenes that will pop up on the screen to give them a little more impact.
How Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord Multiplayer is Improving
Moving over to the multiplayer side of things, ranked matchmaking will be making its way to the game. Your MMR will be determined based on your performance in both the Skirmish and Captain game modes, ultimately with the goal of putting you against people much closer to your skill level. The best player in a game can even be lauded as an MVP!
Aside from the fun gameplay, multiplayer will also incentivize your continued enthusiasm through a progression system. You'll be able to unlock cosmetic skins for your troops and sigils for your profile to start, and this system will expand with further ways to customize it in future updates.
Communications are getting some upgrades, too. The voice chat system that was recently reduced will have more options and controls added in future updates. If you prefer to keep quiet, you'll still have an option to communicate with a new Cheer and Shout system.
When is the Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord 1.0 Release Date?
The Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord 1.0 release date will be sometime in Q2 2022; that means it will release sometime between April 1–June 30, 2022. However, TaleWorlds notes that this is an estimate and it could end up being pushed back.
I've covered some of the bigger points of what's coming, but you should read the full Steam Community news post for all of the details revealed today. TaleWorlds also took care to mention that today's explanation of its future plans is not an exhaustive list; it still has quite a few surprises in store for both new and veteran players. For now, there's still plenty of fun to be had — you can buy Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord in Steam Early Access for $49.99 or your regional equivalent.
What do you think of TaleWorlds' plans for the future of this medieval RPG? Do you think they'll have the game ready for next year's Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord 1.0 release date? Let us know in the comments below!
