The most anticipated video game on PC while we shelter in place has to be Mount and Blade 2. I’m a solid fan of the franchise as I appreciate open-ended medieval role-playing games.

So it’s finally here. More than seven years after it was announced, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is finally launching on Steam this month, at least in Early Access. It’s a bit pricey, but could be worth it and will have a 10% coronavirus discount. So what?

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is the eagerly awaited sequel to the acclaimed medieval combat simulator and role-playing game Mount & Blade: Warband. Set 200 years before, it expands both the detailed fighting system and the world of Calradia. The graphics and campaign AI appear to be significantly upgraded and the Mods that should come out of this will be very creative.

If you can appreciate video games on the PC like I do, here are some of the updates to the game that matter the most for me:

If you find open-world story development interesting, this should provide some hours of immersion. Bombard mountain fastnesses with siege engines, establish secret criminal empires in the back alleys of cities, or charge into the thick of chaotic battles in your quest for power. Improve the fame of your clan and evolve with a dynamic world.

Some of the game’s concepts are truly pretty immersive if you enjoy political intrigue as well, as it can lead to empire and overland dynamics that you won’t find easily in other PC video games. They provide elements of strategy, character development, customization and role-playing that are long term and offer the best ROI for a serious gamer.

The games devs are based in Turkey and have a somewhat cult-like following and are called Taleworlds. Bannerlord will also be discounted by 10 percent through the first two weeks, with owners of the previous games getting another 10 percent knocked off. Here’s a studio that I actually would want to support, the only guys who would come close would be these guys.

The game comes out on Monday, March 30th, 2020. You’ll be able to play custom battles and the campaign, within which TaleWorlds says you’ll find everything you’d expect from Mount & Blade, along with a new kingdom management system and other new additions.

Considering how long they have been working on this, you have to expect that, even as an early access game, it should be impressive. After eight years of blood, sweat, and tears, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord’s Early Access release is finally upon us.

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So what can we expect from the game?

More Cohesive Global Map: In single player, you will have access to Custom Battle and Campaign game modes. Campaign is a new and somewhat more structured approach to the Mount & Blade experience that blends a storyline and key events with the traditional sandbox gameplay that our players are familiar with.

In single player, you will have access to Custom Battle and Campaign game modes. Campaign is a new and somewhat more structured approach to the Mount & Blade experience that blends a storyline and key events with the traditional sandbox gameplay that our players are familiar with. Campaign aims to provide players with clear goals and missions that can lead to a successful conclusion to a playthrough. However, if you refuse to take any direction and prefer to plot your own rise to power, you can simply ignore the campaign missions and go about your business!

During a campaign play-through you will do most of the things that you would expect from a Mount & Blade game, including creating your own character with their own backstory and exploring a vast, re-envisioned continent of Calradia. In this alt universe you are:

Developing your individual character, companions, clan and impacting the politics of the world.

Hiring companions to accompany you on your journey

Raising warbands and armies to devastate your enemies on the battlefield

Conquering towns and castles

Progressing your character’s skills and equipment

Learning and mastering the game’s much-improved combat mechanics

Commanding and fighting alongside your troops

Knowing the Mount and Blade tradition as I do, I can safely say this is one of the most immersive gaming models ever made on the PC.

Keep in mind that as an early access game, there may be bugs and glitches, there will certainly be balancing issues, some features may be missing or currently disabled, and certain aspects of the game might not receive full support until later. You can expect to see reused scenes (our eventual aim is that each town and castle will have its own unique scene) as well as other types of placeholder content, such as voice lines, animations, quests, etc.

Their plan also includes localization of the game in the following languages: French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Spanish and Turkish.

If you would like to experience everything that Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord has to offer, then I strongly encourage you to hold off on buying the game until the full release. However if you are bored staying at home, I highly recommend this game to tinker in, no matter if you are a gamer or not.