Grand strategy giant Europa Universalis 5 has a date, and it's remarkably close

In a twist I didn't see coming, the Europa Universalis 5 launch date has been set, and it's less than three months until one of the crowning grand strategy games enters a new era. We've come a long way in the 25 years since Paradox Interactive's first Europa Universalis, its breakout hit based on Philippe Thibaut's board game of the same name. The wait for EU5 has been the longest we've gone without a numbered entry, with EU4 celebrating its twelfth anniversary this month, but now that wait is almost at an end.

During Gamescom 2025's Opening Night Live showcase, Paradox confirmed that the Europa Universalis 5 release date is now scheduled for Tuesday November 4. I certainly didn't think we'd see this long-awaited sequel to one of the best grand strategy games of all time before the year was out, but I'm pleased to be wrong. Europa Universalis 5 is built by Paradox Tinto under the direction of Johan Andersson, a mainstay of the series who has also been involved with the likes of Crusader Kings and Stellaris over the years.

Grace recently sat down with an early build of EU5, and came away describing it as both "daunting and exhilarating" in our Europa Universalis 5 preview. While its impressive scale means "it's still subtle and complex enough that its pleasures might take more to fully understand," Grace notes that it does a good job of offering an experience that plays well for both small and large nations. It's also a visual spectacle; "I came away finding a lot of enjoyment in the way it looks," she writes, "something I cannot say for its predecessor."

The newcomer boasts the earliest starting date for the series yet, kicking off in 1337 right as the Hundred Years' War is on the brink of breaking out, and will run a similar stretch of five centuries over the course of a campaign. It features Paradox's "biggest map ever," adopting a more high-fidelity projection of the globe and thus more potential strategic variety. Expect a deeper economic system than ever, along with expanded research branches for unlocking new technologies and ideas.

At UE5's core is the overhauled 'pop' system, breaking down populations into representative units rather than vast blocks. It feels similar to the way Stellaris handles its societies, and allows for more accurate modeling of diverse populations. This can play heavily into the way your cities and regions are impacted by your decisions, creating tension or forging unity between different groups.

On the government side, policy sliders and assignable cabinet advisors will let you manage how your nation is run, and determine how its various internal factions and groups are treated. The military, meanwhile, pulls its soldiers from your population, raising difficult decisions about how you want to keep your people safe. Will you invest in training and gradually establish a professional standing army, or turn to mercenaries in times of need?

With so many systems at play, Paradox is introducing a fresh suite of automation tools to allow you to focus on your favorite parts. There are four grand buckets that you can leave up to your computer advisors. The explorer scouts the map and establishes colonies; the gardener handles research projects and government decisions; the trader manages construction, production, and striking deals; and the conqueror will organize the creation and maintenance of armies.

To put it in 4X game terms, you choose which pieces of the 'explore, expand, exploit, exterminate' pie you care about doing yourself, and which you'd rather leave to someone else. This can be tweaked at a more granular level once the game gets underway, giving Europa Universalis 5 the ability to be at once a tremendously complex and intricate historical simulation and also the series' most approachable entry yet. Will it work? We won't have to wait long to find out.

Europa Universalis 5 will launch Tuesday November 4, 2025, priced at $59.99 / £49.99. The premium edition, which will include cosmetics along with two future chronicle packs and an immersion pack, will cost $84.99 / £70.99. You can wishlist it now if you're already preparing to take to the world stage.

If you need something to keep you busy in the meantime, take a look through the best turn-based strategy games on PC right now. Grace also noted that EU5's early build was putting her mid-range rig to the test, so while we can expect some improvements for launch you may want to consider upgrading to the best gaming CPU for your budget.

Which nation are you most excited to play first in EU5? Come over to PCGamesN's community Discord server to let us know, and be sure to tell us what other features you're hoping make the cut.