Where did you find this? It's a screenshot from around the year 2000. Since the "Heroes" universe was linked to the "Might and Magic" series, the developers wanted to introduce a 9th castle, the "Factory," in the first expansion, "Armageddon's Blade," essentially merging the world of magic with a technological world. There was an uproar on the forums, and the scenario was quickly reworked into the "Conflux" castle. So, the concept of a world distinctly different from the others was preserved, but it took on a more acceptable form. On one hand, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened, but on the other hand, the old world might have ended even sooner, perhaps by the fourth game.