Greg Styczen, the developer of indie medieval city-builderManor Lords, recently took to Steam to offer a preview of what to expect from the game’s next update, and it’s stacked with exciting content. Still in Early Access,Manor Lordshas been praised by many for its embrace of realism, but the game has also faced criticism for its lack of steady updates. With Greg Styczen being a solo developer within his studio Slavic Magic, regular updates are more difficult, but the next scheduled patch promises plenty of new features.
While there has yet to be an official release date forthe nextManor Lordsupdate, a teased overhaul of important features and additional maps aim to make the charming history-drenched game a stronger experience. Despite the unclear nature of its release window, Greg Styczen could potentially be gearing up to end 2024 on a high note.
Confirmed Features in Manor Lords' Upcoming Patch
Making Ale and Water More Functional
The list of upgrades on the way is exciting for many players who have been awaiting more content and quality-of-life improvements. While many details about the two fresh maps have been kept secretive, besides a glimpse at snowy weather, Styczen has offered some insight into other tweaks. When it comes to the ale and water distribution rework, Styczen has promised this change will improve how taverns and wells function within a player’s village.Manor Lords' attention to detailhas fascinated many players, and making certain systems work even better will hopefully enhance the overall gameplay.
Wellheads will show the supply and demand level for each town, which will help players keep track of villagers' needs inManor Lords.
A More Enjoyable Marketplace Experience
The way the marketplace and goods distribution work within the game is getting an overhaul, but it’s also including a long-requested feature, as well. In the official post on theManor LordsSteam page, the developer states that he has “tested three different systems to find an engaging, intuitive, and easy-to-understand solution.” That isn’t all, though. There will also be distribution filters for marketplaces, which have been requested by many players, according to Styczen. The willingness to bringlong-requested features toManor Lordsis a promising sign, as it shows Styczen’s respect for player feedback.
Manor Lords' Update is Hopefully Waiting Around the Corner
While the year is quickly coming to a close, there are still a few weeks left until 2025 arrives. It’s possible that Styczen took to the game’s Steam page just as a way to update the players on what to eventually expect, but it could also be signaling that the update is arriving sooner, rather than later.Manor Lordsstill has a long way to gobefore it becomes a fully functioning game, but it has been off to a solid start. As the city-builder continues to grow, it will be exciting to see what features are in store for players next.
Even more exciting is thatManor Lordshas found itself as a nominee forthis year’s Game Awards, which is no easy feat. This is a big deal for any indie game, but especially one that is still in its Early Access stage. IfManor Lordsis able to take home the award and also potentially drop a huge update, Styczen’s slice of medieval life could close out the year in a really strong way.
Manor Lordsis nominated for the category of Best Debut Indie Game. The Game Awards air on December 12.
Manor Lords
WHERE TO PLAY
Manor Lords is a strategy game that allows you to experience the life of a medieval lord. Grow your starting village into a bustling city, manage resources and production chains, and expand your lands through conquest.Inspired by the art and architecture of late 14th century Franconia, Manor Lords prioritizes historical accuracy wherever possible, using it to inform gameplay mechanics and visuals alike. Common medieval tropes are avoided in favor of historical accuracy in order to make the world feel more authentic, colorful, and believable.Manor Lords provides a gridless city-building experience with full freedom of placement and rotation. Building mechanics are inspired by the growth of real medieval towns and villages, where major trade routes and the landscape influenced how settlements formed and developed.From boots to barley and hides to honey, Manor Lords features a great variety of goods fitting of the era. Materials need to be transported and processed into finished products through production chains, and you must balance the basic needs of your people against the desire to produce luxury items to ensure happiness, manufacture trade goods for export, or forge arms and armor to aid in your conquests.
