May 25, 2026 - Hooded Horse and Sad Socket are excited to share the news everyone has been waiting for – multiplayer has come to hit kingdom-building auto-battler 9 Kings! Whether against friends, foes, or complete strangers trying to mount their ballistas onto boars in peace, today’s update introduces a new competitive mode where players can battle for sovereign supremacy.
Utilizing an asynchronous multiplayer structure, nine players will face off to see whose kingdom will last the longest. At the end of the match, each participant receives ELO points based on their performance... Which brings us to *rankings* (jazz hands). There are nine ranks on the global leaderboard, and players need nine points to be promoted to the next rank, with competition intensifying at KING level. Vying for the top spot each season, players will earn medals that are used to purchase new cosmetic items.
Read the full changelog here.
Lastly, we’re pleased to report that the game has now sold well over 999,999 copies since launching into early access last year.
9 Kings is available now in early access for PC via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store for a base price of $19.99 / £17.99 / €19.99 / ¥1,980. It’s also available via PC Game Pass. It currently holds a 92% “Very Positive” rating with nearly 20,000 reviews.
9 Kings will come to mobile later this year thanks to a partnership with Playdigious.
Sidekick is assisting Hooded Horse in the GAS region, covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
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, MENACE, 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 Sad Socket™
Founded by two childhood friends who tried (and failed) to make a AAA game when they were 11, Sad Socket is one of Brazil’s leading game companies, bringing ideas they are passionate about to life. They are a collaborative group that both develops their own games and helps publish other titles from the region by sharing expertise in game design and the creative industry.
You can find out more by visiting the official website, as well as Twitter and YouTube channels.
About Sidekick™
Sidekick Publishing is an indie game publisher from Germany, born out of creative agency INSTINCT3. Drawing on deep roots in gaming culture, community building, and influencer marketing, Sidekick blends traditional publishing expertise with a creator- & community-first approach. The team focuses on bringing unique indie titles to market with tailored strategies that integrate influencer collaborations, community engagement, and bold creative campaigns from day one.
You can find out more about Sidekick Publishing on the Steam publisher page and the official website.