Ubisoft’s revival of the classic Might and Magic game turned into a comical misstep.

For over 25 years, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 has stood as a cornerstone of turn-based strategy gaming. Players dive into a rich fantasy realm, gathering resources, constructing towns, recruiting armies, and leveling up powerful heroes before engaging in tactical grid-based battles.

So, when the announcement came that the complete version of Heroes of Might and Magic 3 was finally hitting Steam, fans were understandably thrilled. This reveal took place during a major gaming event, where it was also shared that a remake of Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is set for 2027, promising a full 3D overhaul using Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine. Meanwhile, the original Heroes 3 Complete was made available on Steam for $10.

However, there was a significant hiccup: Ubisoft seemingly forgot to include the actual game files.

Players who purchased Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Complete on Steam initially received a nearly empty download. Instead of the expected 770 MB game, they found a mere 23.49 KB file that wouldn’t launch correctly.

Attempting to start the game resulted in an error message and a dummy executable that opened a Command Prompt window. One early reviewer on Steam noted that the release was so flawed that “they did not even include the game files.”

This blunder was particularly embarrassing since the new Steam release was marketed as the complete version of Heroes 3.

Ubisoft’s 2015 HD Edition only included the base game, omitting both expansions, Armageddon’s Blade and The Shadow of Death. The new release aimed to rectify that by bundling the original game with both expansions on Steam.

Instead, players ended up paying for what was essentially a placeholder.

Ubisoft eventually resolved the issue. About 10 or 11 hours post-launch, players reported receiving a 770 MB update that restored the missing game files. The game became playable, although some buyers indicated they would still leave negative reviews.

The Steam blunder was already a source of embarrassment, but Ubisoft’s other announcement regarding Heroes 3 also raised eyebrows among longtime fans.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake will preserve the original’s turn-based strategy, hero progression, and tactical combat while introducing a fully 3D world, free camera control, 4K visuals, dynamic lighting, changing weather, and seasonal shifts. It will feature all nine factions, the original campaigns, and both expansions. Additionally, the remake will support up to eight players, reintroduce Hot Seat multiplayer, and remain compatible with community-created maps and campaigns.

On paper, this sounds like a thorough revival. However, the first gameplay footage has left many fans worried that the remake might be altering the wrong elements.

The primary criticism has been aimed at the art style. In discussions on Reddit, longtime players expressed concerns that the new designs appear too generic, overly polished, and too distant from the original’s unique fantasy artwork. Some even likened the visuals to those of a mobile game or speculated—without evidence—that parts of the trailer seemed AI-generated.

Fans will have to wait until 2027 to see how Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake ultimately turns out.