Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North, the expansion that adds the Vikings and the Scots, went on sale on October 29, 2026 at $19.99 in the US. No Canadian price appears on the Steam page or in the coverage we read, so check your own store before you buy.
It needs Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition on the same platform. World’s Edge, Relic Entertainment and Forgotten Empires developed it, and Xbox Game Studios publishes it, according to Gematsu. The official Age of Empires site says it is sold on Steam, the Microsoft Store and Xbox, with the PlayStation 5 store carrying it from launch day.
What do the Vikings bring to Age of Empires IV?
The Vikings are the aggressive side of the pack. They are built around raiding, fast melee infantry and strong early naval play, with an economy that runs through the communal longhouse.
Later in a match they turn into a medieval kingdom with knights and trained militias. The official site lists these Viking features:
- Longhouse economy
- Northern Migration, which trains population for free
- Heroic Sagas, which grant lasting bonuses
- Sacred Groves and Völur seers
- Berserkers, and Militia Crossbowmen in the later ages
What do the Scots bring?
The Scots play the opposite game: resilient, defensive and patient. Highland Cattle graze berry bushes near Tower Houses, and fishponds back up the food supply.
The Mustering Hall lets a player split an army between Highland and Lowland strengths. According to Notebookcheck, Scottish infantry can see through Stealth Forests, and Gallowglass, Pike and Lochaber Axe units can form a schiltron against cavalry charges. The official page also names Border Reivers and grand castles.
What is new in the Crucible?
The Crucible, the game’s PvE mode, gets four new missions, including seaborne raiders and a civil war among Scottish clans. The mission set is now playable solo or in two-player co-op.
The official page lists two new modes, Conqueror and Custom, plus 25 new Boons, 25 new Mutators and a Talent Track for each new civilization. Two new biomes, Scottish Heathland and Tundra Summer, arrive with the pack.
What else is in the pack?
Both civilizations come with new architecture, masteries, music and voice acting. The official page adds seven new achievements per civilization and 12 new taunts themed on the Vikings and the Scots.
Prices
The Steam page lists Raiders of the North at $19.99 USD. Notebookcheck reports the same figure for the expansion. Neither source gives a Canadian dollar price, and we will not guess one.
If you play on console, Notebookcheck notes that the Xbox listing shows the expansion as a paid add-on with no mention of Game Pass inclusion, and that online multiplayer on console needs Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate.
Who it suits
Players who already own the Anniversary Edition. This is an add-on, not a standalone game, so it only makes sense if the base game is installed on the same platform.
Fans of naval and aggressive play. The Vikings combine early naval strength with fast melee infantry, which rewards players who like to pressure an opponent early.
Defensive players. The Scots lean on Tower Houses, fortified defenses and the Mustering Hall, so they suit anyone who prefers to hold ground and strike back.
Co-op and solo Crucible fans. Four new missions, two-player co-op and the new Boons and Mutators give the PvE side more variety.
Who should wait. If you do not own the base game yet, buy it first. Anyone who only plays ranked or skirmish matches should check how much of the pack they will actually use.
What is still unknown
The sources do not give a Canadian price, a Game Pass decision or a start date for any balance changes tied to the new civilizations. The Steam page lists no screenshots beyond one image at the time of writing.
For the latest details, read the official Age of Empires announcement or open the store page for your platform. The Steam page lists the price in USD, so check the Canadian store before you pay.
