Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North is available today, October 29, 2026, arriving alongside the Update 17.0 patch. The expansion, detailed in the official Update 17.0 Preview, brings two brand-new civilizations, a major expansion to The Crucible, and a slate of extras — and it is listed on Steam with a release date of 29 Oct, 2026.
The Vikings arrive as a relentless force built around raiding, powerful melee infantry, and adaptability. Fast infantry and strength at sea let them seize the initiative early, while a resilient economy centered on the Longhouse supports their ambitions as they expand across the map. The civilization evolves as the match progresses, reflecting the transition from the Viking Age into the emerging kingdoms of medieval Scandinavia: their armies grow alongside them, gaining access to units such as Knights and Militia Crossbowmen as their society develops. Players can forge a legacy through Heroic Sagas, where great deeds grant lasting bonuses, while Sacred Groves give Vikings even more reasons to contest important locations.
Standing against the raiders from across the sea are the Scots, a resilient civilization built around disciplined infantry, fortified defenses, and a strong food economy. Highland Cattle provide a reliable source of food to sustain military production, while Tower Houses and castles establish a powerful defensive presence. Scottish infantry can make particularly dangerous use of stealth forests to spring ambushes, and the Mustering Hall lets players shape their forces around Highland or Lowland strengths — flexibility in preparation without sacrificing the resilience and battlefield control at the heart of the civilization.
The Crucible expands with four new missions whose challenges range from seaborne raiders to conflict among Scottish clans. New Objectives, Boons, Perks, Mutators, and civilization-specific Talent Tracks add variety and progression to every run, and for the first time these challenges can be tackled in two-player co-op, so you can enter The Crucible alongside a friend — solo play remains available for those who prefer to face it alone.
Update 17.0 rounds out the package with an Observer HUD mod category for replays and live observers, loadable independently from Game Mode mods across Ranked, Quick Match, custom matches, and tournament replays, plus 12 new Vikings- and Scots-themed Taunts available to everyone from October 29.
Raiders of the North is part of Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition on Steam. See the expansion’s Steam page and the official Update 17.0 Preview for the full breakdown.
Dan Kowalski reviews games by listening to what they do before believing what they promise. He cares about responsive combat, purposeful sound design, satisfying movement, and whether a game respects the player’s time. Dan will forgive technical roughness when the underlying experience is exceptional. He will forgive almost anything for a brilliant combat system—but never a tutorial that refuses to stop talking.
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