The Unsung Virtue of Supporting Underperforming Games: Insights from Hooded Horse's CEO

The publishing entity behind Manor Lords has voiced the opinion that the criterium for evaluating game companies should stretch beyond their most successful ventures, emphasizing the importance of their handling of less successful endeavors.

Indeed, Manor Lords has emerged as a towering achievement from any perspective. This medieval-themed strategy game has eclipsed benchmarks previously set by heavyweights such as Cities: Skylines and Civilization 6, boasting over two million sales in just shy of three weeks. Yet, during a candid discussion, the game's publishing figure stated it would be somewhat unjust to solely appraise them based on Manor Lords.

In a conversation with Game Developer, Tim Bender, the Chief Executive Officer of Hooded Horse, expressed that to assess his firm solely on their recent triumph would skew perceptions excessively in their favor, as the evaluation of publishers should not hinge on singular successes.

"Ultimately, the real test for a publisher lays in their entire portfolio," he elaborated. "Examine how they have managed their less successful titles... avoid focusing solely on the notable success." Bender advocates for an examination of average performance, suggesting a closer look at how a company navigates challenges and the measures they implement in such scenarios.

Bender advocates for a support system where publishers back their developing teams through tough times, fostering their growth rather than discarding them at the first hint of difficulty. "It's a common scenario: out of five games, four may not meet expectations, but one excels. Some publishers then abandon the unsuccessful ones, concentrating only on the one with the most apparent return on investment," he noted.

His perspective appears especially poignant amidst the current climate where large-scale publishers are frequently severing ties with development studios. Notably, Microsoft has closed down acclaimed teams behind Prey and Hi-Fi Rush, focusing on projects with more significant immediate impact. Similarly, Take-Two has discontinued support for the studios behind Olli Olli World and Kerbal Space Program 2, actions that reflect a troubling trend within the industry.

In a lighter vein, a notable update in 2024 saw Manor Lords addressing a quirky glitch where sheep reproduced at an alarming rate, overwhelming player villages.