The legendary turn-based strategy series is returning with a new title after a decade. 'Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era' (hereinafter HOMM: Olden Era), an official prequel that emphasizes a return to the series' roots, is set to launch in Early Access on April 30.

Unfrozen, the developer and publisher of HOMM: Olden Era, announced the Early Access schedule via official channels, including their Steam page, on April 1. The game will be released in Early Access on April 30. Set on the continent of Jadame, the game explores events prior to the first title, aiming to revive the series by combining deep tactical gameplay with new elements.

At the start of Early Access, six factions will be available: Temple, Dungeon, Schism, Grove, Necropolis, and Hive. Players can choose one of these factions to develop their strategy. Each faction possesses unique units, which can be recruited or upgraded by constructing appropriate buildings. Additionally, there are over 100 heroes, each with their own starting armies, skills, and spells.

Based on this, players can explore procedurally generated worlds or play maps created with the map editor. Starting from a small town, players construct buildings, recruit and upgrade units, and explore the map to capture key landmarks and objects. Movement and combat are turn-based, requiring effective strategies that consider the synergy between units, heroes, and spells.

The game supports three modes: a non-linear story campaign, AI battles, and head-to-head multiplayer. The first act of the campaign will be available at the start of Early Access, with more story content to follow after the full release. The multiplayer suite includes matchmaking, ranked play, and leaderboards, and local multiplayer is also supported for playing with friends on a single PC. A tutorial and a map editor are also provided.

HOMM: Olden Era launches in Early Access on April 30 and includes official support for the Korean language.