Vikings and Scots land in Age of Empires IV with Raiders of the North, the new expansion announced at Xbox Games Showcase

Following the recent launch of Yue Fei's Legacy, World's Edge and Xbox have stunned strategy fans with the announcement of Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North. This brand-new expansion is set to launch in Fall 2026 and will introduce two of the most highly requested civilizations by the community since the game's release: the Vikings and the Scots.

 Unveiled during the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, the expansion does much more than just add new factions. It significantly expands The Crucible mode, incorporates fresh biomes, introduces additional progression systems, and adds co-op challenges designed to boost replayability for both solo and multiplayer fans.

The Vikings arrive with raids, longships, and a unique historical evolution

The new Viking civilization is built around an aggressive gameplay philosophy centered on rapid raids, highly mobile infantry, and naval dominance during the early stages of a match.

According to the developers, players will start by controlling a traditional Scandinavian society supported by Longhouses. However, as the match progresses, the civilization will steadily evolve into more organized kingdoms. This transition will grant access to new units, heavy cavalry, and systems tied to Sagas—an exclusive mechanic that provides permanent bonuses throughout the game.

This marks one of the most profound internal transformations any civilization has received in Age of Empires IV to date.

Scotland bets on resilience and defense

In stark contrast to Viking aggression, the Scots arrive with a completely different identity.

This new faction focuses on disciplined infantry, resilient fortresses, and a unique food economy based on Highland cattle and specialized fishing ponds. From small hillforts to massive stone castles, their entire military infrastructure revolves around territorial defense and strategic map control.

Additionally, the Scots will feature a unique landmark, the Mustering Hall, which allows players to specialize their army into either Highland or Lowland forces, offering distinct playstyles depending on the battlefield situation.

The Crucible receives its biggest expansion yet

A major highlight of Raiders of the North is the evolution of The Crucible, a mode introduced in recent content updates.

The expansion adds:

• 4 brand-new exclusive missions.
• New dynamic objectives.
• More modifiers and mutators.
• Progression systems featuring civilization-specific talent trees.
• Two-player co-op.

The showcased challenges include Viking naval raids, Scottish civil wars, and other scenarios tailor-made to leverage the strengths of the new factions.

New biomes to refresh the battlefields

The expansion also introduces two completely new environments:

• Scottish Heathland, inspired by the rolling highlands of Scotland.
• Tundra Summer, a summer variant of rugged Nordic landscapes.

These biomes do more than just alter the visual look of the maps; they help reinforce the cultural identity of these new civilizations.

An expansion answering years of community requests

Since the launch of Age of Empires IV in 2021, the Vikings have consistently topped player wishlists.

Their historical significance during the Middle Ages, combined with their massive popularity in previous entries of the franchise, made their absence a recurring debate within the community. Meanwhile, the Scots had been a frequent wishlist candidate for years due to their potential to offer a defensive playstyle completely distinct from other European civilizations.

The north becomes the new stage for Age of Empires IV

With Raiders of the North, World's Edge continues to expand the horizons of Age of Empires IV just weeks after the arrival of Yue Fei's Legacy, proving that the RTS giant is still receiving robust support five years after its debut.

And if this first trailer makes one thing clear, it's that the game's next great conflict won't be fought in the East.

It will be waged among the fjords, stone castles, and rugged coastlines of Northern Europe.