Warhorse Studios has a bit of a reputation for making us wait. It’s kinda their thing. If you’ve spent any time scouring the Bohemian countryside in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you know the vibe is all about patience. You wait for Henry to learn how to read. You wait for him to stop swinging a sword like a wet noodle. And now, fans are waiting—arguably too long—for anything resembling a Band of Bastards 3 or a continuation of that specific gritty, mercenary-led narrative.
The original Band of Bastards DLC was a high point for many. It gave us Kuno of Rychwald, a man who basically radiated "I'm too old for this" energy. It was short. It was punchy. It was violent. But since then? Total radio silence from the developers on a direct sequel to that specific mercenary arc.
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We need to be honest about what the "3" even refers to here. In most gaming circles, people aren't looking for a third DLC pack; they’re looking for the third act of Henry’s story or a third major expansion that captures that same squad-based tactical feeling. Warhorse has moved on to Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, which naturally changes the entire conversation around future content.
The Reality Check on Band of Bastards 3
Let’s look at the facts. Warhorse Studios released the Band of Bastards DLC in 2019. It was the third major DLC for the first game. So, when people search for Band of Bastards 3, there is often a bit of a naming muddle. Are they looking for a third mission pack? A third installment in Kuno’s story? Or are they just confused by the DLC numbering system?
The truth is that a standalone third expansion for the original game isn't happening. Development has shifted entirely to the sequel. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the "next step" that everyone is actually waiting for, and that is where we are likely to see the spiritual successor to the Band of Bastards.
The original DLC was inspired by real historical mercenary companies. These weren't knights in shining armor. They were desperate, often cruel men who traded blood for groschen. That grounded, "dirt-under-the-fingernails" storytelling is what made the Band of Bastards so compelling. You weren't saving the world. You were trying to keep a bunch of drunkards from killing each other before the next skirmish.
Why Kuno of Rychwald Mattered
Kuno wasn't a hero. He was a contractor. This is something modern RPGs often miss. Everyone wants you to be the chosen one. In Band of Bastards, you were just the guy keeping the books and making sure the mercenary leader didn't break his contract with Sir Radzig Kobyla.
The gameplay loop was different from the main game too. It focused on small-scale tactical encounters. You had to worry about your squad. If they died, they were gone. That stakes-heavy gameplay is what players are craving when they ask for more content. They don't just want more Henry; they want more of that specific, lethal camaraderie.
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The Move to Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
So, if we aren't getting a DLC titled "Band of Bastards 3," what are we getting?
Warhorse has been very specific about the scope of the sequel. It’s massive. They’ve moved from the rural woods of Rattay to the urban sprawl of Kuttenberg. If you thought the first game was ambitious, the sequel is trying to be a literal medieval simulator on a scale we haven't seen.
Here is what we know about how the "Bastard" spirit carries over:
- Group Combat: The developers have refined the combat system to better handle multiple opponents, a major complaint in the first game's DLC.
- Historical Authenticity: The 15th-century setting remains the core. No dragons. No magic. Just steel and mud.
- Persistent Consequences: Like the fate of Kuno’s gang, the sequel promises that Henry’s choices will actually ripple through the world.
The "Band of Bastards" style of play—leading a small group of specialists—is rumored to be a much more integrated part of the main game this time around, rather than a tacked-on DLC. This is likely why a standalone Band of Bastards 3 was never greenlit for the first game. Why sell a small expansion when you can build those mechanics into the foundation of a massive sequel?
Technical Hurdles and the "Real" Delay
Making games is hard. Making a hyper-realistic medieval RPG is harder.
The CryEngine, which powered the first game, was notoriously difficult to work with. Warhorse had to practically rebuild the engine's physics and AI to get the original Band of Bastards to work. When you see NPCs riding in formation or reacting to Henry’s position in a skirmish, that's the result of thousands of hours of coding.
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Transitioning to the sequel meant moving to a more stable, yet still incredibly demanding, version of their tech stack. This transition is the primary reason why we haven't seen any "smaller" content drops in years. They are swinging for the fences with the sequel.
What Fans Actually Want From a Third Installment
If you go into the forums or the subreddits, the wishlist for a spiritual Band of Bastards 3 is pretty consistent. People want to see the fallout of Kuno's decisions. Depending on how you finished the DLC, Kuno either stayed loyal, took a bribe and left, or ended up dead.
That kind of branching narrative is a nightmare for developers to account for in a sequel. However, Daniel Vávra and his team at Warhorse have always leaned into the "choices matter" philosophy. It’s highly probable that we’ll see references to the mercenary company’s fate in the dialogue of the new game.
Actually, the most interesting thing about the mercenary mechanics was the "combat readiness" of your squad. You had to manage their health and morale. If a third iteration of this concept exists, it needs to go deeper. We need to be able to recruit specific individuals, each with their own baggage.
Misconceptions About the Release Schedule
A lot of the "Band of Bastards 3" noise comes from "leak" sites that use AI to generate fake release dates. You've probably seen them. "Band of Bastards 3 Release Date: Fall 2025."
Ignore them.
There is no "Part 3" in development as a standalone product. The roadmap for Warhorse is publicly focused on the launch and post-launch support of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Any "leaks" suggesting otherwise are usually just grabbing for clicks by confusing the DLC numbers of the first game.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're itching for that mercenary fix, you don't have to just sit around waiting for a title that might never exist under that specific name. There are ways to engage with the content and prepare for what's actually coming.
Replay the DLC with Different Outcomes
Most players play through the DLC once and move on. To truly appreciate the writing, you need to see the "Bad" ending. Take the bribe. See what happens to the region when the mercenaries abandon their posts. It provides a much darker, perhaps more "bastard-like" perspective on the story.
Monitor the Warhorse Official Devlogs
Instead of looking at third-party leak sites, watch the "Squire's Reports" and official developer streams. They often hide "easter eggs" in the background of their Kuttenberg flyovers. Sharp-eyed fans have already spotted heraldry that looks suspiciously like some of the minor houses featured in the first game's DLC.
Focus on Kingdom Come: Deliverance II News
Everything that would have been in a Band of Bastards 3—refined group AI, more mercenary contracts, deeper squad management—is being funneled into the sequel. The game is slated to be much longer and more reactive than the first.
Understand the History
The real "Band of Bastards" were based on the Landsknecht and other free companies of the era. Reading up on the real-world historical context of the Hussite Wars will give you a much better idea of where the story is heading than any "leak" will. The political situation in 1403 Bohemia was a powder keg, and mercenaries were the ones holding the matches.
The wait for more content in this universe is frustrating, sure. But Warhorse has proven that they value quality over speed. Henry's journey from a blacksmith's son to a man who commands respect—and potentially commands a band of his own bastards again—is a slow burn. And honestly? That's exactly why we love it.