Age of Empires 4: Raiders of the North is set for October 29

Xbox Game Studios and World’s Edge will release the Raiders of the North expansion for Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition on Thursday, October 29, 2026. It was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in June. It arrives on PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store, on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and on PlayStation 5, where it will be on the PlayStation Store on launch day. The expansion costs $19.99 and requires the Anniversary Edition base game on the same platform.

Vikings and Scots join the roster

Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North adds two civilizations, each with new architecture, masteries, music, and voice acting. The Vikings are built around raiding, fast melee infantry, and early naval strength, with an economy centered on the communal longhouse. As they age up, they shift from pagan raiders into a medieval kingdom with knights and trained militias, while heroic sagas grant them lasting power.

The Scots play as a resilient, defensive civilization. Their food economy relies on Highland Cattle grazing berry bushes near Tower Houses, along with fishponds. The Mustering Hall lets players split their forces between Highland and Lowland strengths. Scottish infantry can see through Stealth Forests, and Gallowglass, Pike and Lochaber Axe units can form a schiltron to stop cavalry charges.

Crucible expands with new missions and biomes

The Crucible mode, introduced with Dynasties of the East, tasks players with defending a Wonder against waves of enemies. Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North adds four new missions to it, including seaborne raiders and a civil war among Scottish clans. The mode now supports solo play and two-player co-op and adds new objectives, boons, perks, mutators, and civilization-specific talent tracks. Two new biomes, Scottish Heathland and Tundra Summer, change the look of the battlefield.

What to know about Game Pass

Microsoft’s store listings show Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North as a paid add-on and make no mention of Game Pass inclusion. The Xbox listing notes only that online multiplayer on console requires Game Pass Essential, Premium, or Ultimate. Anniversary Edition is available now on all supported platforms.