April 26 marked the first anniversary of Manor Lords’ launch in early access. To celebrate this milestone, developer Slavic Magic unveiled a variety of features and updates currently in development, such as enhancements to AI and user interface, camera improvements, and new building types. These additions are expected to roll out before the game exits early access.
Manor Lords quickly established itself as a remarkable success, selling over 1 million copies on its first day and surpassing 3 million units in lifetime sales by February 2025. Its unique combination of city-building and real-time strategy elements, all underscored by a strong emphasis on realism, has attracted a dedicated fan base. Slavic Magic has also kept the momentum going with substantial updates.
Interestingly, publisher Hooded Horse encouraged fans not to feel rushed to purchase the game at launch, a rare move in the industry. Reflecting on this significant anniversary, Polish developer Grzegorz Styczeń provided a detailed status update on several features in active development. Among them is a new “Records” feature that will track regional consumption and production.
Additionally, the approval system is being revamped to reduce volatility in a player’s public rating, placing greater importance on recent events over past occurrences. Another noteworthy update is the introduction of an upkeep system, which will impose a monetary cost on running various buildings, enhancing the game’s realism. Furthermore, two new building types, quarries and lime kilns, are under development.
Quarries will provide a constant stone supply, while lime kilns will produce lime essential for advanced stone construction. Additional updates in progress include improvements to AI for village building, a records view for production data, and a rework of the progression system. These changes reflect Slavic Magic’s commitment to enhancing gameplay and visual consistency, propelled by the studio’s growth to at least eight permanent employees thanks to the game’s success.