Paradox Interactive has announced that its next grand strategy game is Europa Universalis 5, following a tease posted last week.
The publisher behind titles such as Cities: Skylines, Crusader Kings, and Stellaris pulled back the curtain on its latest continuation with a sweeping cinematic trailer today. It’s being developed by the Barcelona, Spain-based Paradox Tinto, the same team that’s aided in the development of Europa Universalis 4 for the last few years. While there’s no release date yet, the Europa Universalis 5 Steam page is already online.
“Challenge your strategic skills over 500 years of history, in Europa Universalis 5, the latest version of the celebrated grand strategy game,” a description shared by Paradox says. “Master the arts of war, trade, diplomacy, and government in the largest and most detailed Europa Universalis game ever. Guide the destiny of any of hundreds of nations and societies in a simulated living world of unparalleled depth and complexity.”
Europa Universalis 5 has been in development at Paradox Tinto for more than five years, with the team saying it’s made the experience “with the devoted Paradox fan in mind.” The team has taken “over a year of public discussion” into consideration, adding that the public’s voice has played an important part in what it calls “the largest and most detailed Europa Universalis game ever made.”
Europa Universalis 5’s campaign begins at the dawn of the Hundred Years’ War in 1337. As players lead their people through the major moments in history set to follow, they’ll have an army of new features to enjoy. Highlights from today’s reveal include the promise of a new and larger map that takes advantage of accurate map projection with hundreds of different societies. Paradox says it features a population-based system this time around, as well as upgraded production and trade systems that will see players carving out a place for themselves by building farms, plantations, and factories or trading with neighboring areas.
It’s all in the name of creating a strategy experience that gives players the freedom to build and run their nation the way they see fit. It was teased to be a mysterious and “ambitious” project from the Paradox team last week, though fans had largely figured out what was in store beforehand.
“Europa Universalis 5 builds on the franchise’s core concept of developing and advancing nations from around a deeply researched historical world,” the description continues, “adding more detailed diplomacy, a more sophisticated economic model, a revised military system, and greater logistical depth that will challenge even the most experienced strategy gamers.”
Europa Universalis 5 is currently set to launch for PC at an unspecified time in the future. While we wait for updates, you can read up on our hands-on preview here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
