What just happened? The turn-based strategy scene is about to get a nostalgic revival. Ubisoft has unveiled Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era at Gamescom, bringing back one of gaming's classic franchises after a long hiatus. The game is slated for launch in Q2 2025, coinciding with its 30th anniversary.
It's been nearly a decade since the last mainline Heroes of Might and Magic game, with Heroes of Might and Magic VII debuting in 2015. Now, the developers at Unfrozen are determined to recapture the magic, taking us back to the fantastical world of Enroth from the original 1995 release. This prequel adventure also ventures into new territory on the unexplored continent of Jadame, offering fresh factions, environments, and mythical creatures to discover.
At its core, Olden Era stays true to the franchise's iconic turn-based gameplay that strategy enthusiasts love. However, it looks to shake things up with deeper RPG mechanics for leveling heroes, factions, skills, and spells.
Artifacts are getting an overhaul, now offering stacking bonuses when you equip multiple pieces. Additionally, troops gain new secondary abilities to leverage on the battlefield, such as Graverobbers summoning skeletal minions.
The game also promises a wealth of gameplay options, including non-linear single-player campaigns, standalone skirmish maps, and more. Multiplayer enthusiasts will have dedicated co-op and PvP modes to enjoy. On top of that, a built in map editor allows the community's creative minds to craft unique stories and campaigns through user-generated content.
Under the hood, the game introduces fresh mechanics like hero and creature active abilities, as well as a "Faction Laws" system for fine-tuning playstyles. The currently revealed factions range from Knights to Necropolis denizens, Sylvan elves, Dungeon dwellers, and the insectoid horrors of the Hive clan. Additional factions may also be on the way.
Olden Era will launch as an early access title, allowing Unfrozen and Ubisoft to shape the experience based on community feedback before releasing the full 1.0 version. The game is already available to wishlist over on Steam.