Check out this Manor Lords patch preview, featuring fishing pond additions

After Manor Lords surpassed the developer Slavic Magic’s wildest expectations with how well it did, it was clear that it wouldn’t take long before the next big update was here. And while it’s not out yet, this update is definitely on the horizon, featuring Unreal Engine 5 and fishing ponds.

More specifically, Slavic Magic has now put out a lovely little preview of on Steam. That’s not the update’s official title, granted, but it sure is both memorable and picturesque, so “fishing pond update” is what I’m going with. The fact that the game is being updated to Unreal Engine 5 is decidedly less important, I’d say. This update is due to be “completed and released within the next few weeks,” though, if a launch timeline is what you were hoping to get.

Manor Lords’ fishing lakes update is coming soon

“In response to popular demand,” Slavic Magic says, “fishing ponds will be added.” Short, concise, and to-the-point. For those who’d like to keep ponds useful around the whole year, the new Winter Fishing development branch is here to help, making them a handy implement whenever needed. Alongside the fishing ponds, Slavic Magic is also introducing a few new character portraits and – more importantly – crossbows as a ranged armament option, adding a bit of punchy pizazz to the game’s combat systems.

You’d expect the fact that Manor Lords is already moving over to Unreal Engine 5 (from Unreal Engine 4) would be a huge deal, but the fact is only mentioned in a small blurb towards the end of the preview, saying that “[Manor Lords] will be upgraded to Unreal Engine 5, which should bring a host of improvements and allow development to proceed even better going forward.” So, it’s good stuff, but probably not hugely relevant to Early Access players at this time.

While Manor Lords certainly doesn’t need any help in keeping players trucking as the game tops Steam charts, a big new content update is bound to entertain people anew. I wouldn’t be surprised if a new record is made along the way, after the ponds are finally released, honestly.

It’s taken some time for Slavic Magic to spin up its proverbial engines after Manor Lords‘ remarkably successful Early Access release. This apparent lack of content updates coming in fast and hard has led to some developers saying that Manor Lords was a “case-study in the pitfalls of Early Access,” which is a surprisingly harsh statement that was, granted, retracted later on. Regardless, big, meaningful content updates are clearly in the pipeline for the foreseeable future, and with ponds on the horizon, only the sky’s the limit for Slavic Magic.