Manor Lords beta to add livestock, cheesemaking and construction

Developer Slavic Magic completed a round of technical refactors and will deploy Manor Lords’ next update to the game’s beta testing branch by the end of July. The studio aims to merge the update into the main build by the end of August.

Lead developer Greg Styczeń wrote, “Let me yap a little bit about what’s coming to Manor Lords soon.” He said the team paused feature work to polish core systems and now plans to add new content to the beta after merging the refactors to the main branch.

Structures in the update will be split into basic and advanced tiers. Advanced projects require skilled builders assigned at a new Construction Yard. The yard uses multiple handcarts to move resources and Ox Carts for heavier loads; Ox Carts must be loaded manually. Skilled builders will construct basic-tier structures faster, while advanced buildings take longer and show more of the construction process with scaffolding, cranes and task-specific animations based on historical examples.

Animal husbandry expands beyond sheep. Players can import and breed cows that live on constructed pastures. The worker type formerly called “Sheep Farm” has been renamed “Livestock Farm.” Pastures require planks and building time, with construction cost scaling by size. Slavic Magic added water shelters for pastures based on manuscript examples. Livestock produce milk, can be butchered for beef, and a new Cheesemonger artisan converts milk into cheese.

The team adjusted livestock behavior and added feeding requirements. Oats, a new easy-to-grow crop, can be used as animal feed or processed into food for townspeople. Workplaces can receive season-specific assignments so players can set different tasks for each season. Production and breeding cycles for cows and sheep will vary by season.

The update adds a new map type featuring a wide valley where two rivers converge. The Large Stone Church will be available in this update. Trading posts will gain storage filters so players can specify which goods each post accepts or stores.

Slavic Magic plans to release the update to the beta testing branch by the end of July and hopes to have it in the main game by the end of August. The developers thanked players for their patience and noted that development perks are planned next.