Publisher of Manor Lords postpones release of their next strategy game on Steam to avoid disappointing 500,000 players

Publisher of Manor Lords postpones release of their next strategy game on Steam to avoid disappointing 500,000 players

After the relatively successful launch of Manor Lords on Steam, the next medieval strategy game from the publisher is already on the starting line. However, the release has now been postponed to cater to the many players, according to their own statements.

What game is this about? Norland is a medieval strategy game published by Hooded Horse and developed by Long Jaunt. It was originally slated to launch on May 16, 2024, on Steam.

The game is inspired by RimWorld, Crusader Kings, and Caesar, but differentiates itself with its medieval setting.

You build your medieval kingdom from scratch while other kingdoms are, of course, doing the same. In Norland, it’s all about shaking hands with other rulers or stabbing them in the back, in true strategic fashion. The game revolves significantly around the needs and emotions of both your residents and the ruling family.

Why has the release been postponed? In an official statement, the developer announced that the release has been pushed to July 18, 2024. “We have done what we could, but the game needs more testing and debugging; it is not performing as it should,” the justification states.

To deliver a well-functioning game and add some more features, the developer wants to take a few more weeks, but feels optimistic about the new release date.

The publisher Hooded Horse also commented on the postponement and the high number of players wanting Norland. They stated that the game is on 500,000 wish lists. On Steam DB, the strategy game currently ranks 37th among the most wished-for games on Steam, just behind Deltarune and ahead of Kingmakers.

What worked with Manor Lords should work here too

With the postponement and the extra work on the game, they are trying to meet the high numbers. “The reason is simply the same as for the postponement of Manor Lords,” explains Hooded Horse CEO in an interview with PC Gamer. It is merely additional polishing of the game.

Of course, it could very well be that merely the “well-being” of the many players and the final improvement of the game are behind the new release date, as indicated by the official side. Perhaps the publisher wants some time alone for its current medieval strategy game and gives Norland a more separate start to avoid competing for the same audience.

If both games are equally successful, they can definitely benefit more from it. Whether this thought is behind it remains pure speculation.

What else should improve? In its statement, the developer also discusses plans that will be implemented before the release in July. Among other things, trade on the world map is to be improved and a provincial ecology will be added that forces players to deal with soil erosion, limited resources, and market saturation beyond their borders.

Market speculation, improved character reactions, and patrols are to be added. Also, features to improve the quality of life in Norland will be reworked. Among other things, aging, prophecies, and disasters will be added to the game.

A translation from English into several languages, including German, is also to be carried out.

Right behind Norland, you can find Kingmakers among the most wished-for games on Steam: “We all had this idea for years”: New strategy game on Steam impresses with its first trailer

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