Might & Magic: Heroes VI is an upcoming turn-based strategy video game for Microsoft Windows, the sixth installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic series. Currently scheduled for release in March 2011, it is being developed by Black Hole Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. It was announced on 17 August 2010 and was featured at Gamescom.

Chronologically, the game will be the earliest title set in Ashan, occuring 400 years prior to the events of Heroes of Might and Magic V. The game's scheduled release will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Might and Magic franchise.

Producer Erwan Le Breton has stated that while the gameplay of Heroes VI will remain largely faithful to the Heroes series and retain most of its fundamental elements, it will involve a mix of familiarity and new innovation, including boss fights, a town conversion functionality and a reputation system. Of the four rare resources obtainable in all previous instalments, only crystals will remain. Roughly 50% of units present in the game will be new introductions to the series.Multiplayer will be present.

Plot

Heroes VI is a prequel to the main campaigns of Heroes of Might and Magic V, taking place four centuries earlier in the world of Ashan. A legendary Archangel general, revived hundreds of years after perishing during the Elder Wars, plots to recover his powers and take control of Ashan while battling a supposed Demon invasion, but is impeded by the Griffin dynasty. The campaign protagonists of the five factions are members of the Griffin family, the children of Duke Pavel.A hero named Sveltana has been prominently featured in screenshots to date.The campaigns can be played in any order, and are interconnected.

Development

In August 2008, upon announcing his departure from the position of Heroes of Might and Magic producer, Fabrice Cambounet revealed that Erwan Le Breton would now be in charge of "the project", mentioning that "he has more than a patch plan to manage, don't worry."The existence of Heroes VI was hinted at as early as June 2009, in video developer diaries for Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes: Le Breton and fellow producer Romain de Waubert wore shirts sporting a Might and Magic: Heroes VI logo.In an interview with PlanetDS.de, the producers dropped further hints relating to the project's existence, with de Waubert stating "I’m such a fan of Might & Magic that I wear its future like a second skin, very close to my heart." 

According to Le Breton, Nival Interactive were considered to reprise their role as series developer, but Ubisoft could not agree on a common vision with the Heroes V team, most of whom had already been transferred to work on Allods Online; Black Hole Entertainment impressed Ubisoft as experienced, talented and passionate people, and were selected to create the sequel. Olivier Ledroit is again collaborating with Ubisoft on the game's art direction, and community suggestions are being heavily incorporated via a private forum. 

Though expected to be first unveiled at Gamescom 2010, numerous screenshots and the teaser trailer prepared for the announcement were leaked and posted early at fansite Heroes Community, several days prior to the official press release. 

The game is currently planned to remain PC-exclusive, and is being developed for Windows, although a Mac OS version is under consideration.