Skip to main content

Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Europa Universalis 4's Leviathan expansion gets April release date

Adds new diplomatic and development options.

Europa Universalis 4, Paradox Interactive's dizzyingly rich grand strategy game, will be getting its 17th major expansion, titled Leviathan, on 27th April.

Leviathan is focussed on offering new ways to succeed beyond endless expansion and warmongering, introducing a range of new diplomatic and economic options to meet that goal. "Build a force of diplomats," explains Paradox by way of example, "and use your flattery as a weapon against others. Or draw wealth and power from the remote regions of your realm to construct a metropolis to be the engine of your economy."

One of Leviathan's most significant additions is the ability for diplomats to proactively gain Favours with a nation (previously they were accrued over time), which can then be used to perform useful diplomatic functions - such as abandoning an alliance, or having a nation return a core province - without having to declare war.

Europa Universalis IV: Leviathan - Story Trailer.Watch on YouTube

Elsewhere, Leviathan introduces new Regency options, specialised colonial nations, the ability for provinces to expand their infrastructure capacity, Totemism, monuments, new unit models for Southeast Asian nations, and more, as detailed on Paradox's website.

Europa Universalis 4's Leviathan expansion will cost £15.49/€19.99/$19.99 USD when it launches on 27th April, and will be accompanied by a free update for all players. This features the likes of Australian Aboriginal nations, major gameplay enhancements for the American First Nations, plus map changes to Southeast Asia and North America.

Paradox recently introduced an optional subscription service for Europa Universalis 4, giving complete access to the game's sizeable heft of DLC - including the upcoming Leviathan expansion - for £3.99/€4.99/$4.99 USD a month.

Read this next