Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has just entered Early Access, and Unfrozen has already released a roadmap for the coming months. The studio clearly is not one to release an update and then fade into obscurity. Coming soon are co-op, dungeons, a spectator mode, and a whole bunch of other things fans of the series have been waiting for years. The developers promise to continue polishing the game until the full 1.0 release.
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Map Generator Update and Co-op in HoMM
Q3 2026. That is when co-op mode will be added to Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. You will be able to team up with friends, take down the AI together, or compete against other teams. Sounds like the reason many picked up the game in the first place.
But that is not all. The random map generator will also receive a major update. Instead of relying on randomness, you will be able to change the map size, the number of players, and perhaps other parameters right in the game. The developers have not revealed all the details yet, but judging by the wording, there will be significantly more freedom.
Plus, a whole bunch of balance changes have been announced: a rebalance of hero abilities, an improvement to the reaction wheel (yes, that controversial mechanism), new neutral units, spells, and map objects. In short, Q3 will be a big one.
Spectator Mode and Matchmaking in Olden Era
The fourth quarter of 2026 is the next milestone. Unfrozen will overhaul the matchmaking system. More advanced matchmaking options will be introduced. What exactly does this mean? Most likely, you will be able to filter opponents by rank, playstyle, or some other parameters. But there are no exact technical details yet.
The most anticipated addition of this phase is the spectator mode and replay system. Imagine watching a match between top players, analyzing their tactics, or rewatching your own playthroughs to see where you went wrong. This is a gift for the PvP community. The plans also include a redesign of hero subclasses and changes to alternative upgrades. It is worth clarifying: the developers have not yet said how deep these changes will be, but the announcement itself suggests the meta could be significantly altered.
Dungeons and the Thieves Guild in the new Heroes
Next comes the best part. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is preparing updates leading up to version 1.0. And now Unfrozen has decided to remember why we love the series.
Dungeons. Yes, those very same ones—an iconic element since the classic HoMM games. The underground map layer will have its own locations, a unique musical theme, distinctive areas, and secrets to discover. This is not just “another level”—it is a separate world beneath your feet.
The Thieves’ Guild will also return. For those unfamiliar, it is a kind of “reconnaissance”—the ability to spy on opponents, steal artifacts, and obtain important information. Level 8 neutral units (powerful, rare, and desirable) will be added. And the map editor will be expanded so that fan-made scenarios can closely resemble the official ones.
And that is not all:
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Iron Golem mode – with one save, where every decision is final. It is truly hardcore.
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Match statistics – for analysis and bragging rights to friends.
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Hero specialization rework – more customization, less cookie-cutter builds.
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Evolving city layout – your base will grow and change before your eyes.
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New victory conditions in PvP – not just “kill everyone,” but also alternative objectives.
Therefore, Unfrozen intends to polish the game to make it appealing. Dungeons, the Thieves Guild, and the Iron Golem mode are what fans of the original HoMM will forgive any minor flaws for. Now all that is left is to wait for version 1.0. But judging by the pace, it will not be boring.
Release Data 1.0 and the Unfrozen Story Campaign
A full release is not just a matter of “bugs fixed.” Unfrozen is preparing the second and third acts of the story campaign. And one more thing: a mysterious roguelike-style PvE mode. The developers are still keeping quiet about what exactly it is. But the very term “roguelike” in the context of HoMM sounds intriguing – procedural generation, permanent hero death? We will see.
Plus, the game will add support for map publishing. This means the community will be able to share their creations directly through Steam. New achievements and other integrations with the Valve platform are also on the list.
Incidentally, the fresh balancing patch, announced the other day, is delayed. Just a little. Unfrozen promises to release it early next week. So stay tuned.
Olden Era Early Access Steam Reviews
Since its Early Access release, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has received 91% positive reviews on Steam. A solid result. And this is not just thanks to the game itself – the developers are really working hard. In recent weeks, several patches have been released, fixing the most annoying bugs, tweaking the balance, and even adding a new difficulty level on random maps. Perfect for hard-core players.
The studio’s current priority is to constantly add content and promptly fix any issues that surface in Early Access. It seems Unfrozen is determined to polish the game at any cost. And they are doing quite well.
Is Heroes of Olden Era Worth Buying Now?
Fans of turn-based strategy games can confidently pick up the title right now. The main selling point is purely financial: the Steam build is available at a reduced price. By the time 1.0 releases, the price is guaranteed to skyrocket, which is completely typical for the industry. Those who jump on board today will receive all future content without any additional investment. And, frankly, the technical state is pleasantly surprising. The project has already accumulated over 91% positive reviews on Steam. That is an impressive figure. The core mechanics work like clockwork: ranked PvP finds opponents, maps are generated, and Unfrozen Studio fixes critical bugs within a couple of days.
Available Content and Developer Plans
Currently in the client:
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The starting first act of the campaign
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Ranked PvP and a basic random map generator
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A stripped-down level editor
Planned for the full release:
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The final story (Acts 2 and 3)
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Co-op with adequate matchmaking
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Advanced modding tools with Steam Workshop integration
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Dungeons, the Thieves Guild, plus level 8 neutral creatures
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PvE mode (a local roguelike) and the hardcore Iron Golem format
Who Should Postpone a Strategy Purchase?
If it is crucial for you to devour the entire story in one go, it is best to postpone the purchase. Those who prefer a perfect content experience are also a bit cramped for now. The announced dungeons, co-op, and roguelike modes are not included in the current build. According to the roadmap, these features will not reach servers until Q3–Q4 2026.
Who Would Benefit From Early Access?
However, hardcore fans of Heroes III and Heroes V are strongly advised not to skip the launch. This is your real chance to break into the meta, boost your rating at launch, and directly impact balance. The developers at Unfrozen meticulously monitor feedback—useful QoL changes are rolled out in a matter of weeks, rather than being left unchecked for months.
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