January 29, 2026 - Hooded Horse and Unfrozen are delighted to announce that a new hero has answered the call to help take their upcoming turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era to new heights. Jon Van Caneghem, founder of New World Computing and one of the original creators of the Might and Magic series, has joined the project as a creative advisor.
Caneghem founded New World Computing in 1983, and helped found the Might and Magic series with the release of Might and Magic: Book One, released in 1986. He was inducted into the Computer Gaming World Hall of Fame in 2004 for Strategy and Role-Playing games, and his videogame career has spanned decades, with stints at NCSoft, EA, Trion, and more. He’ll be assisting the developers at Unfrozen with game design, worldbuilding, and other creative matters regarding Olden Era, adding to the guidance the team already receives from Ubisoft as the IP holder.
“It is a great pleasure to see the world I have built all those years ago thrive and be a part of so many people’s memories,” says Caneghem. “I’m very glad to be able to contribute to it once again and walk this road with all of you who made Might and Magic into the legendary series it is today.”
“Jon is an incredible, talented man and a true legend for all the fans of the franchise, whose craftsmanship inspired me to be where I am,” says Unfrozen CEO Denis Fedorov. “We are very pleased that Jon accepted our proposition to become an honorary creative advisor for Unfrozen.”
You can read the full statement from Jon Van Caneghem and Denis Fedorov here.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era will be released on PC via Steam Early Access in 2026. A press kit is available.
Press inquiries: press@hoodedhorse.com
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About Hooded Horse™
Hooded Horse is a publisher of deep strategic and tactical games, including Manor Lords, Against the Storm, ENDLESS™ Legend 2, Old World, Norland, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, and 9 Kings. With people and partners around the world, our goal is to empower and support developers in doing what they do best: creating world-class experiences for their audiences.
You can find out more about us on our Steam publisher page or website, as well as our social channels: Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord.
About Unfrozen™
Established in 2016 by industry veterans, Unfrozen is composed of team members who have previously worked on popular games such as League of Legends, World of Warcraft, and Disciples 3. Pioneering the future of tactical and strategic gaming, the studio aims to become a global leader in this niche. Their first game, Iratus: Lord of the Dead released in April 2020 and sold over 500,000 copies.
You can find out more via the Steam publisher page or website, as well as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord.