Kingdom Under Fire II goes massively multiplayer

Blueside bringing true sequel to action-real-time-strategy hybrid to PC and consoles with a targeted 2009 release window.

Imagine thousands of guys like this on the battlefield.

The Kingdom Under Fire real-time strategy series has always incorporated action and role-playing game elements, dating back to its 2001 inception on the PC. With the Xbox 360 release of Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom earlier this month, the developer went so far as to drop the RTS focus and crank out an action-RPG instead.

Now the franchise is set to embrace an even more convoluted genre description. Developer Blueside today announced that it will be taking the series back to its action-RTS roots with Kingdom Under Fire II, but it's also adding something new. The game will be the first example of a new genre the developer is dubbing Massively Multiplayer Online Action Real-Time Strategy, or MMOARTS.

The game won't be this battle-ready for some time.

Kingdom Under Fire II's new MMO mode will allow thousands of gamers to meet in "siege battles of epic proportions," according to Blueside. Both its multiplayer and single-player campaigns will feature a new storyline in which the balance of power between the Human Alliance and the Dark Legion is upset by a third faction bent on world domination.

With an anticipated 2009 release window, the game is being made for worldwide release on the PC and unspecified consoles. Blueside is codeveloping the title with Phantagram, but no publisher has been announced yet.

84 Comments

  • mattiberg

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 8:25 am PT

    this game sounds freaking awesome! im so buying it !!

  • Don0van

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 9:55 am PT

    This game sounds so fun i cant wait for it to come out gonna watse lots of my life in this game haha

  • ShadowXStorm

    Posted Dec 14, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    Kingdom Under Fire was by far my favorite game on the Xbox, Live was just so fun. When Circle of Doom arrived I was very disappointed that they had stepped away from the mass war scale of KUF. But now it has returned and sounds VERY intreging I will be sure to keep an eye on the progress of this game

  • crippledknight

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 8:39 pm PT

    This, has got to be the best game ever. They messed up with their first 360 release, but they listened to their customers, made a smart move... and now, will bring us this... I will buy this game... the same day it comes out... If you havent tried the ones on regular xbox, please do... the one on 360 isn so good, but this one...... Bye, im gonna go ply my old one from

  • uberjannie

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 7:18 am PT

    DIBS!
    Im going to buy this game. I like the idea of MMOARTS

  • sdxermacx

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:01 am PT

    started playin the one on xbox and if it plays like that it would be awsome but the other one for 360 (Rpg) was really bad so it looks awsome

  • wildnine00

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 10:36 pm PT

    Ok this game sounds amazing.

  • Drakie_pooh

    Posted Mar 16, 2008 11:41 am PT

    wow I am eremely pumped about this game. I have always been a huge fan since the crusaders came out. and since then these games have been my most favorite. I cant wait how this whole MMOARTS works out its sounds really crazy. and according to my video game fantasys I think they just fulffiled them all. just big ass battles with other players from around the world while you fight personnaly sounds amazing

  • Syliss

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    this looks incredible...if it plays like heroes I might finally give up and play my first MMO

  • TheReaper180

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 11:42 pm PT

    Man the graphics have come a long way... if they keep the same basic playing style, then I will eat a kitten in front of a PETA meeting to get this game once it comes out.

  • Shadow_Fire41

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 7:01 pm PT

    hells ya!

  • merick365

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 11:23 am PT

    holy s#it this looks f***king tight!!!! there previous were to but, holy crap!!!!!!!!

  • Kubilius

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 1:14 am PT

    Well previous comments here are pretty saddening or at least not encouraging, but i will still say it - IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY MAKE A HUGE MASSIVE ONLINE STRATEGY GAME No ponnies and dressing up your elfs, but something really huge, with huge battles, resources, castles n stuff!

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:02 pm PT

    this isn't savage 2 you fight and lead simultaneously, imagine a game with dynasty warriors combat for your general unit, then simple action strategy elements that let you control your army in real time.

  • betty_lim1979

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 8:43 pm PT

    Is it another savage 2?
    Look like the concept is quite same to savage 2.

  • Canitbe

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    Unfortunately, for those of you who think this is a new genre, it really isnt. It's been done before on the PC.

    That being said, maybe it's a new genre on the consoles, shrug.

  • TrueIori

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:08 pm PT

    i did not like CoD i went as far as trading the game for folklore but now that it going back to it roots now that what i am talking about

  • Diernes

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    The kingdom under fire series (prior to CoD) is much beter than dynasty warriors, the original games were the best RTS a console has ever seen, it did have dynasty warriors action elements but at its heart it was pure tactical war rts.

    With some of the most punishing difficulty of any video game I have played.

    Go read the very positive gamespot reviews on this site regarding Heroes/crusaders because CoD was just a lame game using the character liknesses of KUf, it wasnt a kingdom under fire game as far as I am concerned

  • klugenbeel

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 1:08 pm PT

    KUF never sparked my interest, seemed like another Dynasty Warriors, but this being MMO....huge battles...idk, i might check it out at least, but no promises.

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    This is ludicrous already. They went from RTS, to crappy RPG now to this? Count me out.

  • Azhar85

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 10:49 am PT

    good to built it massively multiplayer because KUF CoD is totally sucks...especially when playing it solo....

  • Devvy01

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 6:42 am PT

    Multiplatform, good to hear..

  • Jokul

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 6:16 am PT

    Nice, war games are always better against a human mind

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 4:44 am PT

    The greatest console rts ever. Bfme was garbage compared to the old kuf 1.

  • Azwhtknight

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 4:12 am PT

    Definitely sounds interesting. The first Kingdom Under Fire game was cool and I hope they listen to the fan base and keep the same style but just expand upon it for the MMORTS. The graphics boost will definitely be appreciated. I will be watching this one.

  • Ninjiz

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 3:18 am PT

    not sure why gamespot has it as unconfirmed platforms. Other sites that revealed this game over a week ago have already stated its for 360 and PCs...

  • Canitbe

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 12:45 am PT

    :
    mastertimx so this going to be on ps3 or what?


    Well, if you would have read the article, you would have noticed this.

    'With an anticipated 2009 release window, the game is being made for worldwide release on the PC and unspecified consoles.'

    Why ask a question like that when it clearly states, unspecified consoles.

  • mastertimx

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 11:47 pm PT

    so this going to be on ps3 or what?

  • sirkibble2

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    Living in the birth of a new genre, good stuff.

  • MadrikerXIV

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 10:18 pm PT

    They managed to grab my attention with Circle of Doom, an' the game wasn't even considered a 'serious' title according to dir. Henry Lee. Lookin' forward to the combined efforts of Blueside an' Phantagram with this installment.

  • Ninjiz

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 10:01 pm PT

    What are you talking about? They said from Day 1 that Circle of Doom was NOT a real KUF sequal, and was just a side departure. THIS is suppsoed to be the actual sequal.

  • Krusnikzero2

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 8:57 pm PT

    Great Idea, hopefully they pull through in a better way then circle of doom did. I'm glad to see they're going back to their old formula though.

  • Diernes

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 8:33 pm PT

    Come on people. Forget about the lame new entry in the series. (Circle of doom) The first two games were awesome, and under appreciated on the xbox.

    If you have never played them, you need to go try them out and forget about the latest 360 offering.

    Hopefully this is a return to the winning formula of heroes/crusaders with complete with full MMO support. I dont know how they are going to do it but its about time we got something new in video games other than souped up graphics.

    Ambitious to say the least i will be following this title closely.

  • quietguy

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 8:15 pm PT

    .... To bluntly put....

    This is gonna *bleep* up faster than Paris Hilton got out of jail. (No pun intended on the P.H part)

    A helluva move. I salute your insanity.

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 7:09 pm PT

    Ouch, vote of no confidence much? I guess all the 4s, 5s, and 6s, for KOF Circle of Doom didn't sit to well with em huh?

  • unreal_master

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 7:07 pm PT

    ok plz stop i rented the rpg one and not that good i played for 5hrs and it wasnt that fun. kill run to the end over n over no story line unless i talk to that dude when i sleep no ty.

  • Timbydude

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    Both developers have spotty histories; not to be a pessimist, but I think that in the wake of things like unannounced Blizzard MMO and unannounced Bioware MMO, this title might get lost. But, if they work hard enough, I bet they could top both of those. Only time will tell.

  • Gen007

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:49 pm PT

    holy now we can start seeing some real next gen graphics in our mmos bad ass

  • eljono

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:45 pm PT

    All I care is that there are new genres and challenges still coming out which is a good thing,It may not be a WoW but atleast they are innovating and trying something new. Kudos from me.

  • PS3_3DO

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:43 pm PT

    Dude the console is the 360.

  • FlashCharge

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:41 pm PT

    If their game play is streamed lined and the story is unique there is the chance that this type of game could raise the standard on game play. It would be a super challenge to World of Warcraft. Will look forward to see how this game develops over the proceeding months.

  • PiNwOrM

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:18 pm PT

    D3j1k0, names?

    It's not that I don't believe you, I'm just intrested in trying an MMORTS game.

    Though, me not having heard of it just leads me to believe that they probably suck.. but hey, they'res been extremely unpopular games that were fantastic.

    Point is, names of some of these games? I'd like to check them out.

  • ahyumifan

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:16 pm PT

    you gotta be kidding me.

  • D3j1k0

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:11 pm PT

    uhhh....mmo rts's aren't really that new, there are lots of games like that out now, they just don't really advertise them.

  • Ghetto_ninja

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:11 pm PT

    For Action RPG fans this is a must have. Circle of Doom is the best action RPG for a console since Champions of Norrath. With action RPG's it doesn't matter what the critics say cus there is a large group of gamers who enjoy this genre and understand whats important in this type of game. Circle of Doom nabbed the graphical style and created an awesome world with awesome weapons and atttacks. And rather than just copying every last thing for other action RPG's they added things like guns an awesome weapon system and despite what reviewers say creative characters. A katana wielding Vampire is by no means unoriginal especially in the realm of action RPGs.

  • red_x2004

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:09 pm PT

    The idea of controlling an army into a massive world is very interesting , and i think its a bit too early to start saying this game is going to be bad or any thing like that , the game has promise and only time will tell.

  • mikewalsh69

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    lol circle of doom for the 360.you cant make this stuff up.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 3:54 pm PT

    if they make me pay, i wil not pay for this

  • RedMasterDX

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 3:45 pm PT

    I hope they'll pull through with this game.

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