New World Computing was an American video game developer and publisher, best known for creating the Might and Magic series and its More Popular Spin-Off, Heroes of Might and Magic. John Van Caneghem and Mark Caldwell founded the studio in 1984 (in the immediate aftermath of The Great Video Game Crash) to produce Van Caneghem's first original project, Might and Magic: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum. Released in 1986, the game gave birth to the last of the Big Three Western RPG Long Runners, alongside Origin's Ultima and Sir-Tech's Wizardry.
Five games into the M&M series, NWC decided to take a break from it and adapted the successful gameplay formula of their earlier standalone King's Bounty to the setting, producing the first Heroes of Might and Magic (1995). In March 1994, however, the company (probably feeling the pressure from the on-going WRPG crisis) was bought out by the multimedia giant NTN Communications. The marriage didn't last long, however, and NTN sold NWC off to The 3DO Company in July 1996, mirroring Origin's acquisition by Electronic Arts four years prior.note
As a 3DO subsidiary, New World Computing focused solely on developing new Might and Magic and Heroes titles. Things went well for a while, but after 3DO hit a rough patch financially, it had to lay off most of the NWC staff in April 2002. This didn't help, however, and 3DO filed for bankruptcy in May 2003, at which point the rest of the New World Computing was dissolved, too. Their final release was the 2003 Expansion Pack for Heroes IV, Winds of War, while their last full game was the 2002 Might and Magic IX, rushed and barely playable upon release.
Before its dissolution, 3DO sold off the rights to the Might and Magic brand to Ubisoft, who published a number of sequels for both series.
Games developed and/or published by New World Computing:
Independent years
- Might and Magic: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum (1986)
- Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World (1988)
- Nuclear War (1989), published by U.S. Gold
- King's Bounty (1990)
- Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan (1990)
- The Faery Tale Adventure: New World Computing acquired the developer and ported the game to Sega Genesis, to be published by Electronic Arts in 1991.
- Joe & Mac (1991, publisher), developed by Data East
- Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (1991)
- Planet's Edge (1991)
- Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen (1992)
- Spaceward Ho! (1992, publisher), developed by Delta Tao Software
- Empire Deluxe (1993, publisher), developed by Mark Baldwin and Bob Rakowsky
- Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen (1993)
As an NTN subsidiary
- Hammer of the Gods (1994, publisher), developed by Holistic Design
- Inherit the Earth: Quest for the Orb (1994, publisher), developed by The Dreamers Guild
- Iron Cross (1994)
- Zephyr (1994)
- Anvil of Dawn (1995, publisher), developed by DreamForge Intertainment
- Heroes of Might and Magic (1995)
- Multimedia Celebrity Poker (1995)
- Swords of Xeen (1995, publisher), developed by Catware
- Wetlands (1995, publisher), developed by Hypnotix, Inc.
- Mind Games (1995, publisher)
- Chaos Overlords (1996, publisher), developed by Stick Man Games
- Empire II: The Art of War (1996, publisher), developed by Walter Bright and Mark Baldwin
As a 3DO subsidiary
- Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars (1996)
- Spaceward Ho! IV (1996)
- Wages of War (1996)
- Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven (1998)
- Arcomage (1999)
- Heroes of Might and Magic III (1999)
- Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor (1999)
- Vegas Games 2000 / Vegas Games: Midnight Madness (1999)
- Heroes Chronicles (2000-2001)
- Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (2000)
- Heroes of Might and Magic: Quest for the Dragon Bone Staff (2001), a remake of King's Bounty for PlayStation 2, with the HoMM label added for brand recognition
- Legends of Might and Magic (2001)
- Heroes of Might and Magic IV (2002)
- Might and Magic IX (2002)
