It isn’t unusual for a game to remain silent after a well-received early access launch, yet Manor Lords has been quieter than most. Developed by Slavic Magic, this medieval city-builder first caught attention in April 2024, achieving recognition as Steam’s most wishlisted game and selling 3 million copies within its initial year of early access.

Despite a steady stream of updates in its first year, the game has had little to report throughout 2025, with its last update not coming for nine months. A new experimental beta has finally arrived, introducing a plethora of new features, four new maps, and additional game modes including a 1v1 duel and a four-player free-for-all called Fractured Realm.

The update also enhances the existing gameplay by adding a masonry-themed production chain allowing players to create stone and mortar using quarries, stonemasons, and lime kilns.

Significant improvements have been made throughout the game: castle construction is now more extensive, encouraging various upgrades, while food production and resource yields have received more detailed mechanics. Players will notice changes to how citizens perceive them, now reflecting recent events more than past actions.

As this is a beta update, players are advised to back up their existing saves as compatibility may be an issue. The creator, Greg Styczeń, has acknowledged the long gap between updates, citing challenges in expanding the developer team and trying to tackle too many issues simultaneously.

In a statement, he remarked, “I need to rethink what went wrong to ensure it won’t happen again.”

With numerous enhancements introduced, the creative evolution of Manor Lords continues, promising to engage players in new strategies and gameplay mechanics.