Ubisoft confirmed previous rumors about a possible expansion of their successful franchise Heroes of Might and Magic into the MMO (massive multiplayer online games) market. However, this will not be a regular MMO, like World of Warcraft, but an online-based MMO, meaning that it will be played inside the browsers.

Dubbed "Heroes of Might and Magic Kindgoms", the game will be co-developed by Ubisoft and Chinese studio TQ Digital, a subsidiary of publisher NetDragon. The strategy game is set for release next year in spring, and will require no download or installation. Players will be able to explore inside their browsers the persistent world of HoMM, commanding large armies or creating huge kingdoms.

Previously known as Heroes Of Might And Magic Online, HoMMK is Ubisoft's attempt to break loose from Blizzard's domination in the lucrative MMO market. Despite the fact that HoMM has a relatively small audience here in the West, it is Ubisoft's spearhead in the world's biggest gaming market, China (a reason for which the French developer and publisher picked a Chinese partner for the development of the title).

“This is a new type of game for Ubisoft, one that allows you to jump into a rich and complex universe just with your Web browser,” said Serge Hascoët, Ubisoft’s chief creative officer. “Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms will open a wide door to the Might and Magic universe, allowing players to immerse themselves within it unlike ever before.”