Ubisoft recently re-released the 1999 strategy classic Heroes of Might and Magic III on Steam, but the launch was marred by a significant issue: the game itself was not included in the download. Die-hard fans who purchased the $10 title found they had only downloaded a minimal 23.49 KB file, which produced an error message when they attempted to launch it. This issue prevented players from accessing the game for several hours after its release.
One user on Steam described the problem, stating that the download contained a "dummy .exe that when you launch the game just loads up CMD." They criticized Ubisoft for such a fundamental error, especially given the company's extensive history on Steam, and recommended purchasing the game from GOG, where it was reportedly functioning correctly. Another player noted that the issue was eventually resolved with a 770MB update approximately 10 to 11 hours after the initial release, finally adding the necessary game files. Despite the fix, many players expressed dissatisfaction, leaving negative reviews to reflect their initial experience.
This re-release was intended to offer a content-complete version of the original game, including its two expansions, Armageddon's Blade and The Shadow of Death. A previous HD version released on Steam in 2015 was criticized for lacking these expansions and certain features. The current Steam listing highlights that this is the original 1999 version. The troubled launch occurred alongside the announcement of a new 4K remake of Heroes of Might and Magic III, which is slated to bring the game to consoles for the first time.