Best PS5 Controller Settings for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Optimising your PS5 controller settings for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KC: D2) can make a huge difference in your gameplay. Whether you’re exploring the vast open world or engaging in intense combat, it helps enhance combat precision, responsiveness, and overall immersion. The right controller configuration will give you a significant edge in both exploration and duels, ensuring a smoother experience. 

Players can start by remapping parry to R1 for quicker and more intuitive access during combat, adjusting trigger resistance to make actions like sword fighting and archery feel smoother, reducing the left stick dead zone to improve movement, and adjusting the haptic feedback for a more immersive feel. 

Here is a list of suggested configurations for  KC: D2 for a smoother gameplay experience:

• Parry = R1
• Left Stick Dead Zone = 10% 
• Right stick dead zone = 5 to 7% 
• Trigger Resistance = Low (30-40%)
• Haptic Feedback = Medium or off (to reduce distractions, combat only) 

Customising these settings can significantly improve your reaction time, precision, and overall enjoyment of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on the PS5.

Pre-Configuration Settings

Before jumping into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, it’s crucial to set your initial configuration for smooth performance and responsive controls. These adjustments ensure that your game runs smoothly, minimise input lag, and offer better responsiveness and visual clarity for optimal performance. 

Some common key settings to adjust before playing: 

• Graphics Settings: Choose between Performance Mode or Resolution Mode.
• Frame Rate Mode: Adjust for a consistent 60fps for smoother action.
• Gamma: Set between 2.2–2.4 for balanced visuals.
• Field of View (FOV): Set between 75–90 for optimal comfort and visual clarity. 
• Motion Blur: Turn off or reduce motion blur for faster camera responsiveness or sharper visuals.

Players should consider saving different profiles for exploration with higher visual and combat modes to easily switch between configurations based on gameplay style.

Graphics and Frame Rate Trade-offs on PS5

When playing KC: D2 on PS5, you can choose between Performance Mode or Resolution Mode. Performance Mode prioritises higher frame rates for smoother gameplay, while Resolution Mode focuses on enhanced graphics for a more cinematic experience. Each mode has its benefits, depending on what you prioritise, frame rate or visual fidelity.

Setting	Frame Rate	Resolution	Input Delay
Performance Mode	60 fps (stable)	Dynamic 1440p-4K	Low (more responsive)
Resolution Mode	30 fps (locked)	Native 4K	Moderate (slightly delayed)

For fast-paced combat and reactive controls scenes like melee combat, Performance Mode (60fps) offers a smoother experience with less input lag. If you prioritise visuals, Resolution Mode (4K) provides cinematic immersion. 

Gamma, Field of View, and Motion Blur Setup

Visual clarity is key in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, where spotting details and reacting quickly can impact both exploration and combat performance. Adjusting settings like gamma, field of view (FOV), and motion blur will improve your gameplay comfort.

Recommended Ranges:

• Gamma: Set between 2.2 and 2.4 for natural lighting without overexposing bright scenes.
  
• FOV: Between 75 and 90 for optimal viewing angles.
  
• Motion Blur: Turn off or set to Low for faster camera response and maintain clarity during fast movement.

These settings ensure visual comfort and responsiveness, making it easier to focus on the action.

Saving Controller Presets for Combat vs Exploration

Custom controller profiles allow you to quickly switch between different settings, combat, which demands speed and precision, and exploration, which benefits from comfort and immersion, based on your gameplay style. Creating two different profiles ensures you can optimise your controls for specific situations. 

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Go to Settings → Controller Customisation.
2. Select New Preset and name it.
3. Remap the buttons (e.g., Parry to R1, Attack to R2).
4. Adjust stick sensitivity and lower trigger settings for quicker reactions.
5. Save the preset, then repeat for Exploration Mode with lower sensitivity and smoother camera controls. 

Players can switch between profiles and use Combat Mode or Exploration Mode depending on their activity. Also, label your profiles clearly for quick access during gameplay.

Combat and Control Mapping

Properly mapping your controller inputs for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 ensures faster reactions and better handling during intense combat performance. Customising your combat layout will allow you to respond faster to enemy movements and attacks. 

Key controls to consider remapping include Attack, Parry, and Lock-On. For example, moving Parry to R1 allows quicker access during close combat, while adjusting Lock-On to a more comfortable button improves target switching. Also, customising Attack inputs can help streamline directional strikes, especially in fast-paced duels. 

Pre-assigning and saving control layouts tailored for both melee and mounted combat ensures consistency and reduces the learning curve, allowing you to stay focused and confident in any battle scenario. 

Default Combat Layout Overview

The default combat layout in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 includes key control actions like melee attacks, blocking/parrying, and character movement, designed to offer a balanced starting point for new players.

By default, R2 is used for melee attacks, L2 handles blocking and parrying, L1 is used for lock-on targeting, the Left stick controls movement, and the Right stick adjusts the camera and attack direction. This setup is effective for many players, acting as a solid baseline, but customisation can improve gameplay experience and combat style. 

Recommended Remapping for Faster Parry and Attack

To enhance your reaction time in combat, consider customising your controller layout for quicker access to critical defensive and offensive actions. 

Here are some suggested remaps:

• R1 – Parry for faster access and reduced reaction delay
• R2 – Attack to maintain standard placement and muscle memory
• L1 – Lock-On to free up L2 for future utility actions
• Circle or D-pad – Dodge/Quick Use for better accessibility mid-fight

These changes allow you to respond faster in combat, giving you a competitive edge. In addition, you can try different setups in the Training Arena to build muscle memory. 

Lock-On and Camera Behaviour in Duels

The Lock-On feature in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 helps you to focus the camera and attacks on your target during duels, helping maintain spatial awareness and target precision during duels. Once locked on, the right stick lets you adjust your view and attack direction within the lock, without breaking focus. 

While battling multiple enemies, the system usually requires manual lock-on switching or release, giving you full control over your target. In mounted combat or uneven terrain, camera stability can be disrupted, making it harder to maintain focus without adjusting manually. You can adjust lock-on settings for smoother transitions and use them for precise parrying and counterattacks.

Mounted Combat and Horse Riding Controls

Mounted combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 blends fast-paced traversal with real-time swordplay, requiring players to manage both horse control and combat precision. Horse handling can feel heavier and less agile, especially in close combat or tight spaces. 

Here are some key mounted controls:

• Steering: Use the left stick for horse movement.
• Attack: Use R2 for sword strikes.
• Kick: Use R1 for a horse kick or weapon switch.
• Camera: Use the right stick for camera tracking.
• Circle: Gallop or activate speed burst.

Some common challenges include camera reset lag and wide turning radius, which can disorient players mid-fight. Practice in the horseback training duels to master the flow between horse control and combat actions. 

Precision, Feedback, and Ergonomic Tuning

This section focuses on enhancing your Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 performance through subtle but impactful technical refinements, boosting both control precision and gameplay comfort. Refining your controller’s precision, feedback, and ergonomics can significantly boost comfort during long gaming sessions, while also improving accuracy in fast-paced combats. 

Minor adjustments like adjusting stick dead zones can make movement and aiming more responsive, while tweaking trigger tension helps you strike or block faster with less effort. Also, customising haptic feedback intensity ensures tactile cues remain helpful without becoming distracting. 

These adjustments improve combat and help reduce input strain, maintain control and reduce fatigue over long play sessions, allowing for more consistent and enjoyable gameplay.

Camera Sensitivity and Look Speed Settings

Adjusting your camera sensitivity allows you to maintain control over your view, ensuring quick, accurate movements during intense combat situations and tracking enemies. 

Recommended Camera Sensitivity Settings:

• Horizontal Speed: 3.5–4.5 for quick turns.
• Vertical Sensitivity: 2.0–2.5 for controlled aiming.
• Disable Camera Lag: Prevents delayed camera movements.
• Enable Inversion: If preferred for better control.

Players should test their settings in safe zones or training areas to fine-tune for their playstyle for the best balance of comfort and control.

Stick Dead Zones and Movement Calibration

Dead zones are essential to prevent unintended movement from stick drift, but can reduce precision if set too high, in games where control accuracy matters. Adjusting these will make your movements more precise, especially when navigating tight spaces or combat. 

Suggested Dead Zone Settings:

• Left Stick Dead Zone: 0.08–0.12 for accurate movement.
• Right Stick Curve: Set to smooth for better tracking.
• Enable Drift Correction: Maintain stability.

Adjust these settings after extended use or updates, and test adjustments in calm areas like a hub or training zone to fine-tune responsiveness. 

Trigger Resistance for Bows and Sword Clashes

In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, trigger resistance adds immersion to your combat experience by simulating physical tension, especially during drawing a bow or clashing swords. Gamers can feel increased resistance when pulling a bowstring or pressure spikes when parrying heavy blows. 

In addition, the tension varies by weapon, enhancing immersion and realism during combat. Adjust trigger resistance for more comfort, reducing fatigue during long sessions. If you find it too stiff, reduce trigger resistance to maintain comfort and lower the tension for faster inputs. 

Haptic Customisation for Realistic Combat Feel

Customising haptic feedback adds an immersive element to your combat, making sword clashes, arrows, and shield impacts feel more tactile. It helps match vibrations to combat actions, enhancing immersion with every move. 

You can choose between Medium and High Intensity, enable separate Left/right-hand feedback, and activate Directional Vibration for more realistic impact cues. In addition, modes like Subtle, Balanced, or Cinematic let you tailor the overall feel. Adjust intensity for comfort—lower vibrations for exploration and higher for intense combat scenarios.

Reduce Trigger Resistance for Longer Sessions

Striff triggers can lead to hand fatigue, especially during extended gameplay sessions. Reducing trigger resistance will make it more comfortable, especially for ranged combat. 

Suggested Comfort Settings:

• Trigger Resistance: Set to Low.
• Disable Bow Tension: For reduced resistance during archery.
• Switch Profiles: Use a comfort profile for exploration and long sessions.
• Adaptive Curve: Lower it for smoother input.

Players should prioritise comfort and switch between control profiles as needed and regularly check for hand strain to keep their gameplay enjoyable over longer sessions. 

Ergonomic Layout Tips for Comfort

PS5 controller layout has a significant impact on comfort and hand health, especially during long play sessions. For less strain, gamers should remap heavy actions like parry or attack to L1/R1 and keep frequent actions close to their thumbs.

In addition, players can also use a claw grip or controller paddles for comfort and an optimal gaming experience. They should avoid binding critical actions to buttons that require excessive pressure. Lastly, test changes in short sessions and find what feels best, and keep a dedicated comfort profile for longer play to prevent fatigue. 

Troubleshooting and Controller Support

When you encounter issues such as connection drops, input lag, or configuration errors during gameplay, it can disrupt gameplay and responsiveness. However, these can usually be fixed with a few simple steps. 

Here are some tips to fix common controller issues:

• Connection Drops: Try switching to USB mode.
• Input Lag: Update the controller firmware or re-pair the device.
• Configuration Errors: Reset to default settings or recalibrate the controller.

Most of these problems are caused by incorrect settings and can be resolved quickly with a few adjustments. 

Fixing Input Lag or Connection Drops

Input lag or random connection drops can disrupt the combat flow, especially in fast-paced combat, making prairies and attacks feel unresponsive. 

Here are some easy and simple steps to troubleshoot them:

• Switch from Bluetooth to Wired (USB) for a stable connection.
• Update controller firmware via the PS5 Accessories menu.
• Clear the line of sight between the controller and PS5.
• Disable nearby Bluetooth devices or re-pair the controller.

You can run a latency test and consider keeping a backup cable or controller on hand for smoother, uninterrupted gameplay if the issues persist. 

When the Game Doesn’t Detect Your Controller

At times, KC: D2 fails to detect your controller, especially after startup or waking the console from rest mode. You can fix the issue by following these steps: 

Steps to Resolve:

1. Check the USB connection and reconnect.
2. Relaunch Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
3. Reactivate the controller by pressing the PS button.
4. Restart or reset the controller if issues persist.

After trying this method, you can give a moment for the system to respond. If the issue is not resolved, reset the controller or perform a full console restart, especially after system or game updates. 

Resetting Controller Settings to Default

When you experience persistent remap or sensitivity issues, resetting your controller to its default settings can resolve persistent remap or sensitivity issues. 

Step-by-Step Reset:

1. Go to Settings → Accessories → Controllers.
2. Select Controller Settings.
3. Select Restore Default Layout.
4. Confirm and reboot your controller.

Also, your custom presets can be backed up beforehand, and this process won’t affect your game or system data. 

How to Enhance Your Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Performance with Custom PS5 Controls?

Custom PS5 controllers can drastically improve your gaming experience in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, making it easier to react quickly and comfortably. By tailoring your PS5 controller settings, especially if you’re using a custom PS5 controller from The Controller People, you can improve your reaction time and comfort during gameplay. With affordable pricing and an in-house servicing facility, you can ensure your controller stays in top shape. 

Whether you need repairs or further upgrades, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Some key performance enhancements in our custom PS5 controllers include remapping the parry action to R1 for quicker access, reducing trigger resistance to lessen finger fatigue, and fine-tuning dead zones for more precise movement. These changes improve responsiveness and help optimise controls based on your playstyle.