Welcome to the Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era FAQ, where you'll find answers to common questions about the game, features, and more!

What is the Olden Era?

Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era is the official prequel hailing back to the origins of the genre-defining, critically acclaimed series of turn-based fantasy strategy games.

What does the title mean?

The title reflects, on one hand, our return to the classic world and lore of Enroth, and on the other hand, the 'classic' gameplay based on the beloved mechanics of HoMM II-III.

Is it a spin-off or a full-fledged game?

Olden Era is a full-fledged new installment in the series, complete will all features you expect and more! (Some coming during Early Access.)

When? EA or full release?

The game will launch in Early Access in the first half of 2025. The date of the full release will be announced later.

When making a game as mechanically complex as Olden Era, Early Access is a great way to polish and refine certain aspects (balance, UX, etc) by collecting feedback from early players. Thank you in advance!

Who are Unfrozen?

Established in 2016 by industry veterans, Unfrozen is composed of team members who have previously worked on popular games such as League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Disco Elysium, Pathologic 2, and Disciples 3.

Our first game, Iratus: Lord of the Dead, is widely recognized as the spiritual successor to Darkest Dungeon. It was released in April 2020, the game has sold over 500,000 copies on PC, with average Steam rating over 85%. By 2024, Unfrozen has expanded to a team of 50 people and has representatives in Limassol, Cyprus; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Belgrade, Serbia. To learn more, please visit: https://unfrozen.studio/about

How did Unfrozen and Ubisoft decide to work together?

Unfrozen as superfans of Heroes of Might & Magic approached Ubisoft about making a new game in the series. We came up to them with the idea of the game and a demo.

Ubisoft liked the idea of an Indie developed Heroes of Might & Magic game made by fans, with and for the fans, a good first step to relaunch the franchise.

When did the development of the game start?

We began the development of Olden Era in 2020, after the release of the DLC Iratus: Wrath of the Necromancer.

What platforms will Olden Era be on?

In Early Access we will focus on PC (Steam), since this platform is very convenient for collecting community feedback. More platforms will be added later — stay tuned for future announcements!

What will be the game's price?

The Early Access price will be confirmed when we get closer to the release based on the general pricing of comparable games.

If the scope of the game increases significantly during Early Access, we may increase the retail price for the full version release.

Is gamepad support planned further down the line?

Currently, Olden Era's UI is optimized for PC (mouse and keyboard) since this is how strategy games are mostly played. The game has a lot of different UIs, so integrating gamepad support is challenging.

We're considering adding this feature in the future — stay tuned for further updates.

Will there be any post-launch content or expansions?

We are committed to supporting the game post-launch with updates, expansions, and more. We also intend to support community-driven content like templates, scenarios, etc.

What's the main storyline about?

The game is set on the continent of Jadame, threatened by a mysterious new demonic power. The rulers of Dungeon plot to form a defensive alliance with other factions, but it's not easy, as everyone seems to hold a grudge against someone.

Players will explore this non-linear campaign, making choices that shape the fate of the continent and its inhabitants.

How many factions will the game feature?

Six factions will be available in Early Access: Temple (Classic Knights), Necropolis (Undead and Vampires), Sylvan (Nature and Fey Folk), Dungeon (Dark Elves and Underground Creatures), Hive (Demonic Insectoids), and a sixth mysterious faction that will be revealed as you progress.

We plan to introduce additional factions in future updates and DLCs.

What singleplayer modes are included?

The game offers three singleplayer modes: Campaign, Randomly Generated Maps, and Skirmish (Custom Maps).

What multiplayer modes are included?

The game offers three main multiplayer modes:

◆ Classic Mode: Manage multiple heroes, upgrade your castle, and explore the map.
◆ One-Hero Mode: A challenging mode where you control a single hero, and their survival is crucial.
◆ Arena: Focuses on immediate combat where you draft a hero, upgrade them, and engage in battle.

Can I create and share my own maps?

Yes, we plan to include an intuitive in-game map editor during Early Access. It will allow you to create your own single- and multiplayer maps and share them with other players.

What are the main features in combat?

◆ Traditional hexagonal battlefield with an orthographic camera.
◆ Active abilities for both creatures and heroes.
◆ Faction Abilities (hero abilities with a unique twist, designed specifically for each faction).

What are the additional features for multiplayer?

Multiplayer includes matchmaking, ratings, and leaderboards. These are separate for each game mode.

Will multiplayer feature the observer mode?

Yes, we recognize that this is a highly requested feature by the community. We're actively working on implementing an observer mode for multiplayer and are optimistic that it will be available during Early Access.

Will the game feature a random map generator?

Making it was one of our top priorities! We started working on it three years ago and continue to refine it to this day. Our generator features several enhancements compared to those in HoMM III and V, making it truly unique. It works well for both single- and multiplayer.

Will there be map templates like in HoMM III?

Yes, the game offers a variety of templates, which we will rotate regularly in official matchmaking. Additionally, you’ll be able to play on any template by creating a custom game in the official lobby.

Will the game feature underground and sailing?

We plan to introduce both during Early Access.

Do you have any plans for Ashan?

Olden Era takes place on world of Enroth, like in HOMM I-III. We have no plans to explore other worlds in this game.

Will there be hotseat mode?

Yes, certainly.

Will there be a sequel to Iratus?

As previously announced, our studio is excited to work on a new game set in the Iratus universe. We look forward to sharing more details about this upcoming project with you soon.

The HoMM and Iratus franchises are completely independent from each other both narratively and gameplay-wise, except for a stray easter egg maybe.

I am a journalist/blogger and I would like to share information about your game with my subscribers. How can I contact the developers?

Unfrozen is excited to collaborate with media and streamers. If you’d like to conduct an interview or create content about the game, we’re here to assist. Please contact us at the following: katya.prikhodko@unfrozen.studio, and please use press-kit.