Ubisoft Outsourcing Magic? Heroes of Might and Magic Gets a New Potion Master
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Ubisoft is handing off publishing duties for the next Heroes of Might and Magic game to Hooded Horse, raising questions about Ubisoft's priorities and whether a smaller publisher can better serve the strategy game's fanbase, all while the rest of us ponder how this will affect the game's development and future.
Right, so Ubisoft, the folks who occasionally remember they own Prince of Persia, have handed the reins of their upcoming *Heroes Of Might And Magic: Olden Era* to Hooded Horse – you know, the publisher behind the ridiculously compelling *Manor Lords*. It's a bit like giving your slightly singed magical artifact to the wizard down the street who actually knows what to do with it. (Credit to Rock Paper Shotgun for spotting this one!).
Now, the *why* is the real head-scratcher, isn't it? Alain Corre from Ubisoft says it's because Hooded Horse has a "passion for the franchise and strong connection with strategy communities." Which is corporate speak for... well, probably something about money. Ubisoft has been doing a bit of a reshuffle lately. Earlier this year, they split into two, like a gaming hydra, with Tencent taking a bigger bite of the *Assassin's Creed* and *Rainbow Six* pies. Throw in some whispers of delays and cost-cutting, and suddenly, farming out *Heroes* to a specialist publisher makes a bit more sense. It's a bit like when your favourite tavern cuts back on the expensive ale – disappointing, but understandable.
According to Hooded Horse, they're taking over the "day-to-day operations of publishing" and will be listed alongside Ubi on the game's Steam page. Ubisoft will still be lurking in the background, offering support like the benevolent (or maybe slightly distracted) overlord they are. Unfrozen, the actual developers, are apparently thrilled. Hooded Horse means "more marketing support, better visibility, and helps extend our reach to more regions." Fair dinkum, you'd reckon Ubisoft could manage that themselves, being a giant and all. But maybe they’re focusing on their triple-A titles and just don’t have the bandwidth. Who knows what’s going on behind those closed doors?
*Heroes Of Might And Magic: Olden Era* is a turn-based strategy game aiming to recapture the magic (literally) of the series' early days, all the way back to 1995. Early access has been pushed back to later this year, so you've got some time to prepare for diving into a world with a frankly terrifying amount of lore. I'm personally on the fence. Thirty years of fantasy world-building is a bit like trying to read all the books in a massive, dusty library – you appreciate the effort, but you're also slightly terrified of the sheer volume.
It's an interesting move, and one that highlights the ever-shifting landscape of the gaming industry. Will Hooded Horse be able to breathe new life into the franchise? Or is this a sign that Ubisoft's got bigger fish to fry? Only time will tell, mate. But I'm cautiously optimistic. Hooded Horse has a good track record with strategy games, and maybe a fresh perspective is exactly what *Heroes* needs. Just don’t expect blockchain integration any time soon. This ain’t that kind of party. Although, a homm nft collection is not outside the realm of possibilities…
Tags: Heroes of Might and Magic, Ubisoft, Hooded Horse, Strategy Games, Gaming Industry
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun