Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North launched on October 29, 2026 at 17:00 UTC for $19.99 on Steam, the Microsoft Store, Xbox Series X|S and PS5. The expansion adds two civilizations, the Vikings and the Scots, plus four new Crucible missions, two-player co-op for the Crucible and two new biomes. Below: what each civ does, from World’s Edge’s official civ pages and the Update 17.0.12182 notes, and who it is worth $19.99 to.
Table of Contents
Quick answer
- Release: October 29, 2026, 17:00 UTC (10am PDT, 1pm EDT, 5pm GMT). In Asia and Oceania it was already October 30.
- Price and platforms: $19.99 on Steam, Microsoft Store (PC), Xbox Series X|S and PS5. You need the base game, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition.
- Vikings: Villagers spawn for free, the Longhouse runs the economy, seven Sagas give permanent bonuses, and the army is built around Berserkers, Bondi spearmen and Hirdman.
- Scots: Highland Cattle graze Berry Bushes for food, Tower Houses act as outposts, infantry sees through Stealth Forests, and the Mustering Hall lets you pick Highland or Lowland upgrades.
- Crucible: four new missions that only owners of the DLC get: Sea Raiders, Scottish Isthmus, Lost Desert and Thunder & Trumpets.
- Free for everyone: Update 17.0, the 12 new taunts, and the base Crucible rework if you already own Dynasties of the East.
Raiders of the North release time and price
Xbox Game Studios unlocked the expansion at the same moment everywhere. Its official time zone map lists these local times, and the Xbox and PlayStation store listings both carry a 17:00 UTC release time.
| Region | Unlock time |
|---|---|
| Seattle / US West | 10am PDT, Oct 29 |
| New York / US East | 1pm EDT, Oct 29 |
| London | 5pm GMT, Oct 29 |
| Paris / Berlin | 18:00 CET, Oct 29 |
| New Delhi | 10:30pm IST, Oct 29 |
| Tokyo / Seoul | 02:00, Oct 30 |
| Sydney | 4am AEDT, Oct 30 |
Prices checked October 30, 00:30 UTC (US stores):
| Store | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | $19.99 | Base game $39.99 on Steam |
| Microsoft Store (PC) | $19.99 | Separate listing from the console version |
| Xbox Series X|S | $19.99 | Live since 17:00 UTC Oct 29 |
| PS5 | $19.99 | No pre-orders on PS5; it went on sale at launch |
PlayStation players could not pre-order: the pre-order announcement said the DLC would only go on sale in the PS5 store on launch day. The launch post confirms it is now out on all four storefronts. None of the official launch posts mention Game Pass for the DLC; every store we checked sells it as a paid add-on. If you are waiting for a discount, our next Steam sale dates post lists the upcoming windows.
What’s included in Raiders of the North
| Content | Details | Need the DLC? |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings civilization | Longhouse economy, Sagas, Völur, Sacred Groves, Berserkers | Yes |
| Scots civilization | Highland Cattle, Tower Houses, Mustering Hall, Stealth Forest infantry | Yes |
| 4 Crucible missions | Sea Raiders, Scottish Isthmus, Lost Desert, Thunder & Trumpets | Yes |
| Crucible co-op, Talent Tracks, Boon Ascension | Core Crucible features | Raiders or Dynasties of the East |
| 2 biomes | Scottish Heathland, Tundra Summer | Included with the expansion |
| 12 taunts | Viking- and Scots-themed | No, free for everyone |
| Update 17.0 | Balance, maps, hotkeys, matchmaking changes | No, free update |
One thing is missing from the list: the official feature list does not include a new historical campaign. The single-player content in this expansion is the Crucible missions.
A Viking settlement with longships in harbor, from the Raiders of the North store screenshots. Image: Xbox Game Studios
Vikings civ guide: bonuses, unique units and Sagas
The official Vikings page describes a raiding civilization with strong melee infantry and early naval strength. Later in the game it shifts toward medieval Scandinavian kingdoms, which adds Knights and Militia Crossbowmen. Here are its key systems in the order you meet them.
Economy: free Villagers and the Longhouse
- Northern Migration: Viking Villagers are not queued. Town Centers recruit them automatically at no cost until you reach Villager capacity.
- Longhouses raise that capacity. The official notes advise building one early so Villager production never stalls. That makes the Longhouse your real Villager queue. Each Longhouse takes one of four attachments:
- Farmstead: improved farms (Food).
- Bee Skeps: generate Gold.
- Pasture & Loom and Smithy (from Feudal Age): slowly research armor and weapon damage upgrades at no cost. World’s Edge says it is “usually good to buy these early.”
- Living off the Land: units heal from any Food source, which keeps early raiding parties in the field. Since Update 17.0.12182 you can no longer stop and restart it to heal faster.
The seven Sagas
Sagas are quests you can complete at any point in a match for a permanent economic or military bonus. According to the official page, you complete them by raiding enemy buildings, hunting wild animals, trading and other actions.
| Saga | Reward |
|---|---|
| Björn’s Forage Saga | More infantry health and a better charge |
| Falkr’s Village Saga | Faster Villager recruitment, cheaper Longhouse attachments |
| Hrafn’s Raid Saga | Cheaper technology, faster Pasture & Loom and Smithy research |
| Jörmungandr’s Trade Saga | Cheaper Ships and Siege Weapons |
| Jofurr’s Hunt Saga | Faster Villager gathering and more carry capacity |
| Ulfr’s Forester Saga | More torch damage and attack range |
| Dreki’s Temple Saga | Faster Berserker recruitment at Sacred Groves |
Völur, Sacred Groves and Berserkers
The Völur is a unique religious unit with two jobs. It can move between Longhouses to boost their production, or you can sacrifice it on a Relic to found a Sacred Grove. A Grove gives nearby units the Hamingja buff and slowly recruits Berserkers. Relic control is therefore an army source for the Vikings, not just a Gold trickle.
Vikings unique units and technologies
| Unit / tech | What it does (official description) |
|---|---|
| Berserker | Fast dual-axe shock infantry; enrages at low health for bonus damage and healing |
| Bondi spearmen | The spear line that, with Berserkers and Hirdman, forms the core army |
| Hirdman + Ulfberht Swords | Barracks tech that gives Hirdman a master-forged sword for more damage |
| Shield Maiden | Heavy throwing-spear unit from the Konungr Hall landmark; bonuses near allied buildings, protects Villagers |
| Longship | Archer ship that also carries units; each passenger adds health and one more arrow |
| Jylland Knights | Castle Age heavy cavalry, slightly cheaper, refunds some Gold when killed |
| Hagl Brodda | Archers fire two extra arrows at random |
| Skåne Crossbowman | Bonus damage vs Heavy cut from 10/12 to 9/11 in Update 17.0.12182 |
Landmarks and late game: Valdemar Castle (Castle Age) turns every Palisade into a Danevirke wall with far more health and resistance to torches. In the Imperial Age the Vikings’ population cap rises to 210 whichever landmark you build. The Kongens Dør Cathedral unlocks Folkekirken for 220. The patch notes cap the Cathedral’s Gold income at 20 Longhouses. Leikr Training at the University is a further melee infantry upgrade.
A Scots base on heather moorland, with tower houses on the hills. Image: Xbox Game Studios
Scots civ guide: bonuses, unique units and the Mustering Hall
The official Scots page pitches the opposite approach: disciplined infantry, fortified defenses and a food economy you have to protect.
Economy: Highland Cattle, Tower Houses and Fishponds
- Highland Cattle graze Berry Bushes for bonus Food over time without using them up. Your first Dark Age task is to put cattle on the bushes near a Tower House.
- Tower Houses act as Outposts, raise your population cap, produce Highland Cattle and give the cattle garrison space during raids. World’s Edge itself calls the cattle “a prime target for enemy raids”, so the economy is strong but exposed.
- Kirkman and Fishponds: from Feudal Age, a Kirkman can work a Fishpond for Gold, and nearby Villagers gather faster while he does.
Highland or Lowland: landmarks and the Mustering Hall
Each time you age up, you pick a landmark from either the Lowlands or the Highlands. The Mustering Hall holds both sets of technologies, and the ones from a region get much cheaper once you build a landmark from that region. The Hall also lets you spend Food on muster charges to call in warriors quickly, and military buildings inside its influence make mustering stronger.
| Landmark (as shown in the official age walkthrough) | Region | Age | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone of Destiny | Lowland | Feudal (II) | Gold rebate on buildings built within its reach |
| Tower of Skye | Highland | Castle (III) | Hides itself in Stealth Forest; Tower Houses can create Stealth Forests |
| Dhùn Èideann | Lowland | Imperial (IV) | “Seven Sisters” cannons and more range for gunpowder siege |
The walkthrough shows one example path, not the full set of choices, so check the in-game landmark picker for the other option at each age.
Scots unique units and technologies
| Unit / tech | What it does (official description) |
|---|---|
| Pictish Pikeman | Dark Age spearman; the base of the schiltron pike formation |
| Lochaber Axes | Gives Men-at-Arms more damage against cavalry and lets them brace against charges |
| Gallowglass | Heavy claymore infantry (Castle Age, Barracks or Mustering Hall); braces against cavalry charges, deals area damage |
| Cateran | Swift light melee raider for killing workers and torching buildings; Basket-Hilted Broadswords upgrades it in Imperial |
| Border Reiver | Light gunpowder raider with pistols and torches; counters enemy ranged cavalry |
Scots infantry can see straight through Stealth Forests, and the Tower of Skye path lets you plant more of them. That is the civ’s main ambush tool.
Vikings vs Scots: which civ should you play first?
| Vikings | Scots | |
|---|---|---|
| Game plan | Early raids and map control, then Knights and crossbows | Hold ground, protect the economy, choose Highland or Lowland upgrades |
| Economy hook | Free Villagers, capped by Longhouses | Highland Cattle on Berry Bushes, Kirkman Fishponds |
| Main risk | Losing Sacred Groves; Villager production stalls without Longhouses | Cattle raids; Highland or Lowland techs stay expensive without a landmark from that region |
| Raiders | Berserkers, Longships carrying troops | Caterans, Border Reivers |
| Defense | Danevirke walls, Shield Maidens near buildings | Tower Houses, schiltron pikes, Gallowglass, Stealth Forest ambushes |
Our read of the official kits: pick the Vikings if you like to open aggressively and want fewer things to queue (no Villager queue, auto-researched upgrades). Pick the Scots if you prefer defensive play and longer games, and you are willing to babysit a food economy that enemies can raid. Both lean heavily on melee infantry.
A river assault from the Raiders of the North screenshots: longships support infantry crossing between fortified banks. Image: Xbox Game Studios
New Crucible missions and co-op
The Crucible is the PvE wave mode that arrived with Dynasties of the East. According to World’s Edge’s Crucible Reforged deep dive, Raiders of the North owners get four exclusive missions:
- Sea Raiders: hold your coast against waves of Viking longships.
- Scottish Isthmus: defend the northern clans against Scots loyal to the English crown; protecting nearby villages brings allies.
- Lost Desert: fight Knights Templar fortresses in the desert.
- Thunder & Trumpets: a jungle mission against Tughlaq elephant cavalry, where Boons come only from razing enemy fortresses.
Every Crucible mission from both DLCs now supports solo or two-player co-op, with quick match in Standard Mode. Both players must own the DLC for the mission you pick. The update adds 25 Boons and 25 mutators, Boon Unlocks and Boon Vetoes, Boon Ascension (a second tier for every Boon) and a 15-level Talent Track for each civilization. A reworked Conqueror Mode gives everyone a fixed 5,000 Perk Points and four weekly mutators, and Custom Mode lets you pick the mutators yourself. Unit conversion stays disabled in the Crucible (“Nololo,” says the FAQ).
Is Raiders of the North worth it?
It depends on what you play:
- Ranked and multiplayer players: the two civs are the main value. Both have mechanics no other civ uses (free Villagers and Sagas; cattle and the Mustering Hall).
- Crucible players: the four missions and co-op are the draw. Co-op, Talent Tracks and Boon Ascension come with either Crucible DLC, so if you already own Dynasties of the East you get those features for free. What you pay for here is the four missions and the two civs.
- Campaign players: there is no new campaign in the official feature list, so this is the weakest buy for you.
Early player reception is split. On October 30 at 00:30 UTC the Steam page showed “Mixed” reviews, 67% positive out of 59. That is too few reviews to mean much yet. The base game had about 10,000 players online on Steam at the same moment. For more launch-day context, see our October 29 gaming news live blog. To see which Xbox games arrive next month, check Xbox Game Pass November 2026. And if you want another strategy game on mobile, try our Battle of Polytopia strategy guide.
FAQ
What time does Raiders of the North release?
It came out on October 29, 2026 at 17:00 UTC: 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, 5pm GMT and 18:00 CET. In Tokyo and Sydney it was already October 30 (02:00 JST, 4am AEDT).
Is Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North on PS5?
Yes. It costs $19.99 on the PlayStation Store. PS5 had no pre-orders; it went on sale on launch day.
How do I unlock the Vikings and Scots?
Buy the Raiders of the North DLC for Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition on your platform. The official notes list no in-game unlock steps for the civs. Without the DLC you still get Update 17.0 and the 12 new taunts.
Does Raiders of the North have a campaign?
Not according to the official feature list. Its single-player content is the four new Crucible missions, which you can also play in two-player co-op.
Do I need Dynasties of the East to play the Crucible?
No. Per the official Crucible FAQ, either DLC unlocks the Crucible and its core features (co-op, Boon Ascension, Talent Tracks). Each DLC adds its own four missions.
Sources: Steam store page; Age of Empires launch post; Update 17.0 notes; official Vikings and Scots civilization pages; The Crucible Reforged; Xbox Wire; Xbox, Microsoft Store and PlayStation Store listings (prices checked Oct 30, 00:30 UTC).
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Featured image: AI-generated illustration
