The planned Baltic Powers expansion for Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition, which was notably cancelled in early 2025, has been revived and is now scheduled for release on September 10th. This expansion will introduce two new civilizations: the Danes and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Development studio World's Edge had initially teased the inclusion of Denmark and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in a February 2024 stream. However, by January 2025, the company announced the cancellation of the DLC, stating that content had been announced prematurely before it was fully developed. The recent re-emergence suggests a change in development status and revised plans.
The Danes are described as a civilization focused on economic intelligence, naval control, and layered defense, appealing to players who favor strategic information gathering. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, conversely, is designed as an agrarian powerhouse with the potential to convert economic strength into formidable cavalry units.
In addition to the new civilizations, The Baltic Powers expansion will include new maps inspired by historical conflicts such as the Livonian War, the Dano-Swedish Wars, and the wars of the Three Kingdoms. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth will also feature a unique challenge scenario centered on defending their territory against persistent attacks and strategically deploying Winged Hussars. Two new general game modes are also being added: Regicide, where eliminating the enemy's Regent results in an instant win, and Independence, a mode requiring players to achieve victory without home city support.
A free open beta for the expansion is available from July 23rd to August 6th, with opt-in instructions provided on Steam. Separately, the free trial version of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam is scheduled to be removed on August 13th.