Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition will receive The Baltic Powers expansion on September 10, 2026. The Steam Open Beta is available now and gives players an early look at its two new civilizations before launch. The announcement appeared on the official Age of Empires site.
The beta runs from July 23 through August 6 and includes the Danes and Poles. The full expansion will add two civilizations, new Challenge Scenarios, two game modes, more than 25 maps, and over 50 hero customizations.
Two New Civilizations
The Danes
The Danes represent the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway with a focus on economic planning, naval control, and layered defense. Their Customs House lets players use shipments from other players early in a match, while Snaphane and Gunboat levies add defensive options.
Round Churches can shelter villagers when enemy forces reach Danish territory, giving the civilization another way to protect its economy while holding the line.
The Poles
The Poles lead the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and turn a strong agrarian economy into a powerful cavalry force. Lower building costs, civic bonuses, and the Folwark economy support their development, while the Sejm parliament grows alongside the player’s population.
Players can pursue early Cossack uprisings or bring back the Teutonic Knights. The civilization also fields a mounted Hetman and Winged Hussars for major attacks.
Challenge Scenarios and New Modes
Commonwealth Charge asks players to defend the Polish-Lithuanian realm, secure nearby villages, grow their resources and population, and time Winged Hussar attacks against invading forces.
In Havana Heat, players command a Spanish defense against a British assault. The scenario sets a goal of 1,000 enemy casualties while the player protects a Town Center and controls key beaches before British artillery becomes available.
The Baltic Powers also adds Regicide and Independence. Regicide ends the match when a player eliminates the opposing Regent, and Regents cannot hide inside buildings. Independence removes Home City support and adjusts civilization bonuses, placing more weight on battlefield decisions and core strategy.
More Than 20 New Maps
The expansion adds more than 20 thematic and historical maps covering areas from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic. The Arctic Map Pack reaches from Svalbard to Nunavut, with Inuit dog sleds, Whaling Ships, and battlefields in locations such as Nova Scotia and the Shetlands.
The announced historical maps include The Livonian War, The Dano-Swedish Wars, and The Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
Steam Free Trial Ends in August
The current free trial for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam will end on August 13, 2026. Existing owners will not be affected. Players who want to continue after the trial will need to purchase the full game.
What to Expect From the Open Beta
The Steam Open Beta lets the community try the Danes and Poles ahead of the DLC’s September launch. The development team is collecting feedback and plans to make final changes before release.
The launch version is also planned to include balance changes, new revolutions, Editor updates, and improvements to Spectator and Replay features. A small backend update was scheduled for July 23 as part of preparations for the expansion.
The Baltic Powers is available to wishlist on Steam and the Microsoft Store.
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