The runaway success of the medieval city-builder Manor Lords has been a testament to the power of a singular, creative vision. However, for a game in early access, the long development cycle between patches can be a source of frustration for a dedicated fanbase. Following a six-month period of relative silence, developer Greg Styczeń, also known as Slavic Magic, has finally provided a detailed explanation for the delay. The upcoming update is not a simple addition of new features; it is a massive “full rework” of core systems, and according to Styczeń, this overhaul is necessary to pave the way for a future of “smaller, more frequent updates going forward.”

Why the Long Wait? Overhauling Everything at Once

The reason for the six-month gap between major updates, Styczeń explained in a recent blog post, is a “simple” one. The development team, which has grown from a solo project to a small team, has been simultaneously overhauling a multitude of fundamental game systems. This isn’t just a new feature or two; it’s a complete redesign of how things like buildings, production chains, and environmental interactions function. The team made the difficult decision to focus on these large, foundational changes rather than releasing a series of smaller, more frequent patches. The reason for this, as Styczeń pointed out, is that “smaller patches would make things messy or break stuff that’s still being worked on.” This approach is a calculated risk—it tests the patience of the community—but it’s a necessary step to ensure that the game’s foundation is solid for future development.

A Glimpse into the Overhaul: The New Affinity System

While the full scope of the update has yet to be revealed, Styczeń provided a tantalizing glimpse into one of the key reworks: the new Affinity system. This system is a more strategic and nuanced way to lay out your settlements. Buildings will now have different “environmental affinities” that in conjunction with each other. For example, Apiaries can boost the pollination effect of Orchards in certain environments, creating a more symbiotic relationship between your buildings. More importantly, your actions in the game will directly impact these affinities. As you chop down forests, your “Woodland affinities” will start to disappear, forcing you to think more strategically about resource management and its environmental consequences. This new system moves away from simple radius-based buffs and into a more complex, interwoven web of dependencies, promising a deeper and more realistic city-building experience.

The Road Ahead: From Big Overhauls to Small Updates

The most encouraging news from Styczeń’s update is the promise of a new, more rapid development cadence once this massive patch is released. “Once this update is out,” he stated, “we’ll be able to shift to smaller, more frequent updates going forward.” This change in strategy is made possible by the larger team and the fact that the foundational overhauls will be complete. Players can look forward to a future where they won’t have to wait for half a year to see new content and fixes. This is a powerful commitment to the community and a sign that the developers are focused on a long-term, sustainable development plan for one of the most exciting new games in the strategy genre. The wait has been long, but with a new map, a reworked Affinity system, and the promise of a more regular update schedule, it seems the patience of the community will be richly rewarded.