Age of Empires II: The Viking Sagas Is Out Now at $19.99
Age of Empires II is 27 years old and still finding new corners of Europe to fight over. The Viking Sagas, the latest DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, went live on September 22 on Steam, the Microsoft Store and Xbox, and World's Edge says it is also on sale in the PlayStation 5 store from launch day. It costs $19.99 on Steam and on the Xbox store, it needs the base game, and it is not part of Game Pass even though the base game is. The 15 percent pre-order discount is over, so Steam now lists it at full price.
The headline additions are three civilizations, the Danes, the Saxons and the Varangians, and a 15 scenario campaign that follows Harald Hardrada from exile to the invasion of England in 1066. It arrives in a strange week for the studio. World's Edge, which makes the series, was one of the teams Microsoft moved under Activision in the Xbox reorganization we covered on Monday, so this launch landed while the org chart above it was being redrawn.
Video: Age of Empires on YouTube
Three civilizations, three ways to raid
The Danes are the raiders. World's Edge describes them as an infantry and siege civilization with swift sailors, Fishing Ships and Villagers that gather food faster, and a plunder mechanic that pulls gold and resources out of every building they destroy. Their unique unit is the Jomsviking, an infantry unit that sets fire to buildings and ships. The Saxons are the wall builders on the other side of the North Sea: strong fortifications, infantry armies, a fyrd system that levies foot soldiers from towns and estates, and a navy strong enough to challenge the Danes. Their unique unit is the Hearth Troop, heavy infantry with a javelin attack.
The Varangians went east instead of west. They are built around cavalry and navy, with extra gold income from several sources, and their unique unit is the Jarl, a cavalryman who throws axes at infantry. All three civilizations share a new Scandinavian architecture set and are available in ranked play from day one. The DLC also introduces three regional units: the Varangian Guard, shock infantry that generates gold while fighting, the Mounted Crossbowman, and the Longship.
Harald Hardrada in three parts
The campaign is 15 scenarios split into three books, and each book puts you in a different civilization. The Exiled Prince plays as the Varangians and covers Harald's years selling his sword in the Byzantine east, including fighting through the streets of Constantinople. The Hard Ruler switches to the Danes as he returns north to unify Norway and Denmark. The Last Viking closes on the Saxons and the 1066 invasion of England, which is where the historical Harald's story ends. World's Edge's own summary promises companions in the Christian Ulf Ospaksson and the pagan Halldor Snorrason, and a courtship of Ellisif of Kyiv.
The free update is the bigger balance story
Update 185872 shipped the same day and applies to everyone who owns the base game. The Vikings civilization has been reworked and inherits the Scandinavian architecture set, Varangian Guards and Mounted Crossbowmen, and their Longboats are now called Longships. The bigger ripple is the Mounted Crossbowman itself, which replaces the Cavalry Archer for 12 existing European civilizations: Britons, Bohemians, Burgundians, Celts, Franks, Italians, Poles, Portuguese, Sicilians, Spanish, Teutons and Vikings. That is a lot of matchups changing at once without buying anything.
The update also adds the Arabian Desert map, updated historical battles, dozens of scenario editor assets, faster file transfers in multiplayer lobbies, and a Stand Ground patrol rework so units stack less effectively. World's Edge says the AI now runs about 33 percent fewer rules per turn in the late game, and core pathfinding got another pass.
Our take: $19.99 for three civilizations and 15 scenarios is a fair ask for a campaign player, and Harald Hardrada is a genuinely good story to build one around. If you mostly play ranked, the free update matters more than the DLC, and it is worth watching how 12 reshuffled civilizations settle before deciding whether the new three are the ones you want.
Source: Age of Empires (World's Edge)
FAQ
How much does The Viking Sagas cost and where can I buy it?
The Viking Sagas is $19.99 on Steam and on the Xbox and Microsoft Store listing, which covers Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. World's Edge says it is also sold on the PlayStation 5 store from launch day. It requires Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and the DLC itself is not included with Game Pass even though the base game is. The 15 percent pre-order discount has ended.
What is in The Viking Sagas DLC?
Three new civilizations, the Danes, the Saxons and the Varangians, each with unique units and technologies and a shared Scandinavian architecture set. It also adds a 15 scenario campaign in three parts that follows Harald Hardrada from Constantinople to the invasion of England in 1066, plus new regional units and dozens of scenario editor assets.
What do I get if I do not buy the DLC?
Update 185872 is free for every owner of the base game. It reworks the Vikings civilization, gives 12 European civilizations the new Mounted Crossbowman in place of the Cavalry Archer, adds the Arabian Desert map, renames Longboats to Longships, updates the historical battles and improves pathfinding and late game AI performance.
