“From ‘Manor Lords Publisher’ to New Heights: Heroes of Might and Magic Studio Celebrates Back-to-Back Sales of Over 4.5 Million Copies”

Hooded Horse, a rising star in the strategy game scene, has been enjoying a successful streak with recent hits like Manor Lords and 9 Kings, alongside some highly anticipated titles on the horizon, including Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. CEO Tim Bender recently shared some compelling insights into the company’s performance.

In a post on LinkedIn, Bender announced that the publisher has “sold over 4.5 million copies across all stores” in the past year, with their games being added to Steam Wishlists over 8.5 million times. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with so many talented developers.

What stands out about these figures is that sales remained consistent with the previous year: “Same copies sold, just this time it was 8.5 million wishlists instead of 9.5 million.” Unlike last year, when one standout title dominated, this year no single game has taken the spotlight. “Last year, our numbers were heavily driven by Manor Lords — it represented about 60% of our copies sold and about 40% of our wishlist additions,” Bender explained. “This year, no one game accounts for more than 18% of our copies sold or more than 12% of our wishlist additions… So last year we were the ‘Manor Lords publisher’, this year I think we’re something more.”

Bender emphasized that a publisher’s true value lies in their ability to deliver consistent performance across a range of titles. He believes that publishers should focus on supporting developers and mitigating risks, and their success should be measured by median performance rather than relying on standout hits.

As Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era gains momentum, Bender advocates for a passion-driven approach to publishing over purely financial motivations: “Why would anyone want to work with you if not for total lack of choice?”