Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has unveiled its latest playable faction—the Schism. Hooded Horse, Ubisoft, and Unfrozen officially revealed the group today, marking a major addition to the upcoming entry in the long-running turn-based strategy series.
First teased at the gamescom Awesome Indies showcase, the Schism introduces a faction built around ice, eldritch horrors, and an obsession with forbidden knowledge. Lore-wise, they are a breakaway group from the Alvar, Jadame’s dominant continental power, who chose exile in frozen mountain ranges to pursue their own answer to the looming Hive threat.
Their isolation has fueled a society based on literacy, strict hierarchy, and rediscovery of ancient Vori rites. This pursuit of arcane rituals grants them access to dangerous forms of magic—particularly ice spells and summoning monstrous, otherworldly creatures. According to the reveal, Schism commanders can overwhelm opponents either by swarming them with summoned horrors or shutting down enemy abilities entirely. Tentacles, naturally, are included.
The announcement highlighted the faction’s theme of dissent and otherworldly power, positioning them as both a thematic and mechanical contrast to the rest of the game’s lineup. Other confirmed factions include Hive, Necropolis, Dungeon, and Sylvan, each receiving their own faction deep dives.
The reveal also coincides with a milestone for the franchise. On October 9, Ubisoft and Hooded Horse will host a 30th anniversary celebration for Heroes of Might and Magic. The broadcast will run on Twitch and YouTube, featuring interviews covering the series’ past and future, as well as appearances from Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era developers.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is scheduled to launch in Early Access on PC via Steam. Wishlist on Steam.
