The hit medieval city builder Manor Lords has been making waves since its launch into Early Access, and developer Slavic Magic has now unveiled ambitious plans for the game’s future. Despite being a one-person project for much of its development, the popular simulation is set to receive significant enhancements in the coming months.
In a recent update posted to the game’s Steam page, Slavic Magic acknowledged that while the game has been well-received, there’s still considerable work ahead to realize the full vision for Manor Lords.
AI Improvements Take Center Stage
One of the most significant upcoming changes focuses on enhancing the AI, particularly for defensive military encounters. The developer noted that AI improvements are a top priority, with a primary focus on defensive behavior during military conflicts. The team is working to fix issues where AI armies fail to properly defend their regions.
The update mentioned that the developer has been dedicating substantial effort to AI pathfinding improvements, which should lead to more intelligent and responsive behavior from both military units and civilians within the game.
New Records Feature Coming Soon
Another major feature in development is a new Records panel, which will give players deeper insight into their settlements. This detailed information hub will provide valuable metrics about town performance, population statistics, and economic data that was previously difficult to track.
According to the developer update, the Records panel will eventually include town chronicles that track significant historical events in your settlement, adding both gameplay utility and immersive storytelling elements. This feature aims to help players better understand the development of their towns over time and make more informed strategic decisions.
Team Expansion to Accelerate Development
Perhaps the most significant change for Manor Lords is that Slavic Magic is no longer a solo operation. The developer confirmed that they have begun expanding the team, bringing on additional talent to help advance the game more rapidly.
The team expansion is already showing results, with the developer noting that progress on bug fixes and feature implementations has accelerated. This move from a one-person project to a small team marks an important evolution for the medieval simulation, which has maintained a substantial player base since its Early Access launch.
The developer acknowledged that the process of hiring and onboarding new team members has been challenging but necessary to support the game’s growth and realize the ambitious vision for Manor Lords. Despite these growing pains, the expanded team is expected to significantly improve development pace going forward.
Combat System Refinements
Combat improvements were also highlighted in the update, with Slavic Magic addressing multiple aspects of the military system. The developer outlined plans to enhance battle mechanics, unit responsiveness, and tactical options available to players during conflicts.
The update mentioned that work is underway to improve the polearms combat specifically, with adjustments to make formations more effective and responsive. Ranged combat is also receiving attention, with improvements to archer behavior and targeting logic in the pipeline.
These combat refinements are particularly important for players who enjoy the military aspects of Manor Lords, which blends city-building with strategic medieval warfare in a way that few other games in the genre attempt.
Future Content and Community Feedback
Looking toward the future, Slavic Magic emphasized their commitment to incorporating player feedback as they continue to refine and expand Manor Lords. The developer mentioned that they’re carefully monitoring community discussions and suggestions on the game’s Discord server and Reddit community.
The update acknowledged that some players have been encountering stability issues in larger settlements, with the developer confirming that optimization remains an ongoing focus. Performance improvements are planned to ensure the game runs smoothly even in late-game scenarios with expansive towns and numerous units.
While no specific release dates were provided for these upcoming features, the developer indicated that updates would be rolled out incrementally as features are completed and properly tested. This approach aims to maintain stability while steadily improving the game experience throughout its Early Access period.
Building on Strong Foundations
Manor Lords has established itself as one of the most promising medieval city builders in recent years, with players particularly praising its attention to historical detail and organic settlement development. The game features realistic medieval town planning, economic systems, and military management that set it apart from other titles in the genre.
With these upcoming improvements and the expanded development team, Manor Lords appears poised to build upon its strong foundation and potentially deliver on the ambitious vision that has attracted so many players to the medieval simulation. Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely as these new features begin to appear in future updates.
For players interested in following Manor Lords’ development more closely, the developer regularly posts updates on the game’s official Twitter account, in addition to the Steam page and community platforms mentioned above.
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