Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Launches Into Early Access April 30th

According to publishers Hooded Horse and Ubisoft, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era will launch into PC Early Access on April 30, 2026. Developed by Unfrozen, this marks the first new mainline entry in the beloved turn-based strategy series in over a decade.

What to Expect at Launch#

The Early Access version will offer a solid foundation with a mix of classic and fresh elements. Players can look forward to the core Heroes of Might and Magic formula: hero management, army building, exploration of sprawling fantasy maps, and signature hex-based tactical combat where positioning and unit synergies are key.

At launch, the game will include:

• Six unique factions: Temple, Dungeon, Schism, Grove, Necropolis, and Hive.

• The first act of the narrative campaign (set on the mysterious continent of Jadame).

• Premade scenarios with self-contained stories.

• Three gameplay modes: Classic, Single Hero, and Arena, available in both single-player and multiplayer (including hotseat).

• Matchmaking, ranked play, and leaderboards for multiplayer.

• A robust Random Map Generator with multiple templates for unlimited replayability.

• An in-game tutorial and a beta version of the map editor.

Unfrozen brings experience from Iratus: Lord of the Dead, showing strong command of turn-based tactics and fantasy settings. The partnership with Hooded Horse (known for publishing deep strategy games like Manor Lords and Against the Storm) alongside Ubisoft suggests the developers will have room to focus on what the community wants most.

Series Context and Early Access Strategy#

The Heroes series has had a mixed history since the golden era of Heroes III. Later entries like Heroes VI and VII introduced new ideas but struggled with technical issues, controversial design choices, and failure to fully recapture the magic of the classics. Many fans have turned to community mods and HD remasters of Heroes III in the meantime.

Early Access is a sensible choice for this revival. It allows the passionate HOMM community to provide direct feedback while the game grows. Strategy fans have shown they’re willing to engage constructively when developers listen, something Hooded Horse has a strong reputation for supporting.

The Early Access period is expected to last several months to over a year, with new content (additional campaign acts, factions, scenarios, and features) added based on player input. Pricing has not been announced yet, though it may increase as the game expands.

For longtime fans, April 30 represents a long-awaited return to Enroth and beyond. The real test will be whether Unfrozen can blend nostalgia with modern quality-of-life improvements while preserving the deliberate, puzzle-like depth of classic HOMM combat and empire-building.

The involvement of Hooded Horse is encouraging, as the publisher has proven adept at nurturing complex strategy titles and giving teams time to iterate properly.

Are you planning to jump into Olden Era on day one of Early Access, or will you wait for the full release? What are you most hoping to see added during development?