Crusader Kings 3 will look better than ever with map glow-up, new Asian regions

You spend a lot of time staring at the map in most grand strategy games, so it's important that they look good. Whether that's the simplicity of Civilization, with hex-based grids to aid comprehension in fraught multiplayer scenarios, or the sheer cosmic beauty of Stellaris, with beautiful vistas of galaxies near and far to stimulate the imagination, looking good is key. Crusader Kings 3 is no slouch in this regard, but developer Paradox has announced that it is upping the ante in its next DLC, All Under Heaven. As well as expanding the map to encompass all of Asia, the entire world is getting a glow-up.

Let's start with the Asian expansion. We already knew that Crusader Kings 3: All Under Heaven will include new power struggles set in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, but Paradox today announced that the map will include the entirety of the continent. As explained in the game's 177th dev diary, aptly entitled A Fresh Coat of Paint, this is a "big undertaking," but one that seems necessary with such an Asia-focused DLC.

While a lot of mainland Asia is already in the game, huge swathes of the continent were missing. That's all being fixed in All Under Heaven. If Crusader Kings 3 wants to be taken seriously as one of the best medieval games on Steam, then it needs to have an accurate and authentic map of the entire world, not just Europe.

And said map needs to look good, and thankfully it's getting fully revitalized with the aforementioned "fresh coat of paint." While the myriad tiny islands each have their own mix of duchies, faiths, and cultures, this has been simplified slightly for the DLC. The map has had the opposite treatment.

The new map is far more three-dimensional than previously. Mountains rise from the screen and rivers look like they've been carved out of the landscapes. Generally speaking, there's a lot more detail, too. Everything looks more realistic and more visually striking. However, this does not obscure the crucial information. Roads, cities, and regions are all still clearly marked.

Paradox has used the same engine for this tech, meaning that modders can have their fun with the new terrain, putting their own spin on the developer's hard work if they so wish. Alternatively, you can opt for an illustrative paper map, complete with calligraphy and mythical creatures inspired by "Asian folklore." This will be the default map mode for when you play as most east Asian cultures.

If you want that Japanese strategy experience but can't wait until All Under Heaven releases, one of the best grand strategy games will have you covered. And if you want this new map to look really good, make sure you're poring over it on one of the best gaming monitors that money can buy.

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