A Year of New and Vast Horizons

Chapter IV, for Crusader Kings III, invites you to explore the hardships of nomadic life and the splendor of Southeast Asia. With a range of content being released in 2025, Chapter IV brings new challenges, systems, and customization options that deepen gameplay and expand the game map in exhilarating ways.

March 12, 2025: Crowns of the World (Unlock at Launch)

Crown Your Legacy

Begin your journey in Chapter IV with Crowns of the World, a lavish collection of cosmetic options to elevate your ruler's appearance.

• 6 amazing crowns: showcase your sovereign power with new crowns from around the world.
• 4 hairstyles and 2 beards: customize your ruler with refined facial hair and hairstyle options, perfect for adding a personal touch to their royal portrait.

Available immediately for those with the Chapter Expansion Pass at the time of purchase.

April 28, 2025: Khans of the Steppe (Base Expansion)

Conquer the Steppe

Master the Great Steppe with Khans of the Steppe, a Base Expansion focused on nomadic life and the rise of the Great Khan. Experience the challenges of migration, warfare, and the harsh reality of life on the Steppe.

• Nomadic rule: guide your herd, migrate from one region to another, and establish your Domain over the Great Steppe.
• The Steppe region: changes brought by dynamic fertility force migration, adding depth to your strategies.
• Tributaries: establish flexible relationships with your subjects, benefiting both parties.
• Become the Scourge of God: lead your people to supreme power as the Great Khan.
• Mongolian varieties: delve into Mongolian history with the new Temüjin landmark, cultural events, and traditions such as the Tsagaan Sar New Year celebration.

Will you conquer the steppe or succumb to its hardships?

3rd Quarter of 2025: Coronations (Event Pack)

Kneel for the Coronation:

Make an oath and declare your vision as a ruler with the Coronations event pack. Establish your rule and seize power by hosting a grand coronation ceremony, instilling awe and respect in subjects and neighboring monarchs.

• New Activity: Coronations
• Legitimize your reign in grand coronations that will impress your vassals and neighboring rulers
• Make an oath and decide the nature of your rule
• Gather your vassals in a grand ceremony to celebrate your dominion over the realm
• New counselor and vassal events

Your time to ascend to power has come!

4th Quarter of 2025: All Under Heaven (Expansion)

Claim the Mandate of Heaven:

The map becomes 30% larger with All Under Heaven, an expansion that brings the splendor and complexity of East Asia to Crusader Kings III. Govern vast empires, lead legendary clans, and manage intricate political landscapes from China to Japan and beyond.

• China: the Mandate of Heaven
• Ascend to Hegemony, a step above emperors, and manage the Dynastic Cycle.
• Use the Imperial Treasury and Meritocracy systems to maintain power or exploit instabilities to transform the empire.
• Japan: Rise of the Shogunate
• Lead a clan to power as Shogun, Kampaku, or Emperor.
• Choose diplomacy or strength to unify Japan under your vision and lead the nation into a new era.
• Southeast Asia: God-Kings and Empires
• Rule as Devaraja with the Mandala Governance, unifying tributaries into temple-based empires.
• Pay tribute to the God-King by conducting Tribute Missions as a tributary ruler, increasing the support of your subjects.

With new landmarks, regional varieties, and a vibrant cultural backdrop, All Under Heaven allows you to rewrite the history of the East.

Highlights

HISTORY: 

• Choose a royal or noble house from a number of realms on a map that stretches from Iceland to India, from the Arctic Circle to Central Africa.
•  Guide a dynasty through the centuries, ensuring the security and power of each new generation. Gather new lands and titles to cement your legacy.
•  Be a pious king to bring the religious powers to your side, or strike out on your own, designing your own splinter religion and earning everlasting fame or eternal damnation.
•  Knights, peasant revolts, pilgrimages, Viking raiders...experience the drama and pageantry of the Middle Ages.

CHARACTER:

•  Adopt one of five different lifestyles, perfecting your skills in military strategy or kingdom management.
•  Acquire character traits that will guide your actions, but beware if you act against your nature! The stress from denying your truest self could bring a new host of troubles!
•  Choose appropriate guardians for your heirs, or train them yourself. But what do you do if the legal heir is not quite up to the job?
•  Violent characters may develop a fearsome reputation, cowering your timid subjects into obedience with the dread you inspire.

WARFARE:

•  Recruit man-at-arms units and powerful knights to supplement your royal levies.
•  Research new technologies to increase the wealth and military might of your realm.
•  Hire mercenaries and Holy Orders for your major wars.
•  Supplement your income with ransomed prisoners or raiding parties on neighboring realms.

INTRIGUE:

•  Use your spymaster to discover plots against your dynasty and your rule.
•  Recruit agents to assist your schemes to undermine or murder anyone who stands between you and power.
•  Seduce other characters for love or political power.
•  Gather information for blackmailing purposes or call in favors whenever your plans need an extra bit of influence.