Unfrozen, Hooded Horse, and Ubisoft have announced that the early access release of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era will be postponed to 2026 — but fans won’t be left waiting empty-handed, as a brand-new playable demo has just launched.

The strategy adventure unfolds in Enroth, on the mysterious continent of Jadame — a place previously mentioned but never visited in the franchise’s history. Players are invited into a vibrant, living fantasy world full of magic, danger, and discovery. Build glorious cities, assemble mighty armies, and command your heroes and mythical creatures in deeply tactical turn-based battles. Solo players can dive into an all-new campaign or procedurally generated maps, while multiplayer fans can face off — or form alliances — in strategic duels of magic and might. There’s also a powerful map editor to create and share your own adventures with the community.

The main campaign centers on a desperate alliance between rival factions, united to resist the Hive — a demonic swarm led by a corrupted infernal overlord. Players can choose from six factions that blend returning favorites with new creations: Temple (Humans), Necropolis (Undead and Vampires), Sylvan (Nature and Fey), Dungeon (Dark Elves), Hive (Demonic Insects), and a secret sixth faction yet to be revealed.

Three core multiplayer modes await: Classic, where players command multiple heroes and explore the map; One-Hero Mode, a blitz-like variant where a single hero decides victory or defeat; and Arena, which throws combatants straight into battle with custom teams. The game’s refined hex-grid battlefields, modernized AI, and flexible difficulty levels ensure challenging gameplay for both longtime Heroes fans and newcomers alike. Whether you’re here for nostalgia or a new tactical experience, Olden Era promises to deliver the best of both worlds.

Originally planned for 2025, the PC early access version has been pushed to 2026. However, a demo is already available, offering three modes (Classic, One-Hero, and Arena) and four playable factions to test right now.

Source: Gematsu, Steam