Paradox Interactive and Studio Tinto have announced that Europa Universalis 5 will launch on November 4. The release date was confirmed during Gamescom Opening Night Live, alongside the game’s price, pre-order bonuses, and Premium Edition upgrade details. The official release date reveal comes as a confirmation of a commonly held belief among the community that Europa Universalis 5 would be arriving sometime in Q4 2025.
The Europa Universalis series is considered one of the best 4X grand strategy video game franchises ever made, especially in the alternate history sub-niche. The previous entry in the series, Europa Universalis 4, was a commercial and critical success, selling over 2 million units by 2016 and receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews across the board. Early looks and gameplay trailers have revealed that EU5 will be making some changes to the core gameplay loop to set itself apart from its predecessors.
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Europa Universalis 5 Release Date and Pre-Order Bonuses Announced
At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, an announcement trailer officially revealed that Europa Universalis 5 will be released on November 4 for PC. The Standard Edition will be priced at $59.99/£49.99/€59.99, and the Premium Edition will be available for $84.99/£70.99/€84.99. Europa Universalis 5 'sPremium Edition will include two upcoming chronicle packs, one upcoming immersion pack, and a cosmetic reward. Pre-orders will allow players to obtain a complete MP3 collection of Europa Universalis 4 OSTs, including almost every song composed for the game’s many expansions.
Pre-Order Bonuses
- Europa Universalis 4 OST MP3 Collection
Premium Edition
- Two Upcoming Chronicle Packs
- One Upcoming Immersion Pack
- One Cosmetic Reward
It was also revealed that Europa Universalis 5 will lean more into the simulator genre than previous iterations, shedding the series’ board game roots. Additionally, the title will feature an alternative population system, which will change how the prosperity of a region is calculated and will drastically impact how colonization works in Europa Universalis 5. Paradox has also confirmed that economics, research, and government will receive major overhauls, adding depth and progression absent in the previous games.
It has also been confirmed that Europa Universalis 5 will start in 1337, shortly before the Hundred Years’ War and the Black Death. Players will be tasked with guiding their chosen nation through 500 years of tumultuous history that warps and changes based on player actions and the impact they have on the world. Another feature that will see some changes is the military system, as EU5 will allow players to recruit soldiers from their populations, turn them into levies, or hire mercenaries to safeguard their interests.
An upgraded world map will offer a more detailed and highly accurate projection of the world, giving players the necessary tools to adequately guide their nation in Europa Universalis 5 through the annals of history. From all accounts, the new changes coming to the game appear to be hitting the mark, and considering the hype surrounding the release, it’s safe to say the community is quite optimistic about Paradox’s latest project.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- November 4, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Paradox Tinto
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Strategy, Simulation, Real-Time Strategy, War & Military
