The Silver Seas, an expansion for Age of Wonders 4, is out now with sea-based cities, pirate cultures and two new peoples, Triumph Studios announced on November 3, 2026. It is part of Expansion Pass 4, which Paradox Interactive lists at $49.99, £41.99 and €49.99.
Game director Tom Bird wrote on Xbox Wire that the content grew out of player requests, to the point that the whole expansion is themed around them. He says the game is entering its fourth year and its fourth set of expansions, which makes it the longest-supported title in the series.
What does The Silver Seas add?
According to Paradox Interactive’s product page, the expansion centres on a new Mercantile culture. Its main features are:
- Cities at sea: Bird says players can place cities on the water and turn them into floating fortresses
- Two subcultures: the Cartel, which grows through smuggling and secrecy, and the Barony, whose nobles place bounties on enemies and import what their empire needs
- Two new forms: Aqualon and Sharkkin
- A society trait: Children of the Waves, which turns your people into Merfolk
- Four new Tomes: Hydromancy, Damned, Piracy and Eternal Ice, with Eternal Ice something players must earn
- A pirate dwelling: Bond of the Free Captains, with three pirate captains and a Life Bond progression that unlocks shops, units and technologies
- World map content: ocean events, landmarks such as the Tempestuous Vortex and Armada’s Fall, ancient wonders such as the Uncharted Harbor and Pearltide Dome, a Spawning Shoal infestation and a Pale Tidebloom magic material
- New creatures: Frenzied Fish Swarm, Accursed Wisp, Hoarfrost Manta, Seamare, and Lightning and Storm Rune Crabs
- Extras: an interface skin, new music by Michiel van den Bos, a Seamare mount, a realm template and new traits
Where did the ideas come from?
Bird says the Aqualon first appeared as concept art shared during work on the Eldritch Realms expansion. Many players commented on the design, so the studio explored what the people might become. The Sharkkin, he says, come from a steady stream of “Sharks!” answers whenever the studio asked what new people to add. The Magic Tome choices followed from the water theme, with ice magic as a natural next step. Bird adds that the studio did not add vapor magic this time and leaves the door open for later.
Where does it fit in Expansion Pass 4?
Paradox’s October 1, 2026 press release describes Expansion Pass 4 as four pieces of content for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S:
- Singer of Storms: available now, a new premade ruler with a Storm Seamare mount and new customization options for Champions, Wizard Kings and Elder Vampire Hybrids
- The Silver Seas: November 3, 2026
- Court of the Archfey: Q1 2027, with a new Ruler Type, Form and Story Realms
- Forge of the Firstborn: Q2 2027, focused on customization and crafting, with a new Form, Story Realms, Tomes and a forge mechanic
Paradox also lists a free “Witch Update” patch for all players, with fixes, improvements and a Flying Broom mount for heroes. The product page names Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG as stores, and says the Steam version carries a sign-up bonus, a Special Godir Helmet that is only available on Steam.
Prices
Paradox Interactive’s press release gives a suggested retail price for Expansion Pass 4 of $49.99, £41.99 and €49.99. The release does not tie those figures to named countries in the text we read, so check the store you use. The pages we read do not give a separate price for The Silver Seas on its own. Xbox Wire’s store box lists the base game at $49.99, which is a different product from the expansion.
A Paradox Account is required for certain features, and players must be 16 years or older to create one, according to the Xbox Wire listing.
Who it suits
Players who asked for naval play. Bird says seabound gameplay has been the most requested addition since launch, and this expansion is built around it, with cities on the water and sea creatures to fight.
Fans of pirate fantasy. The Cartel and the Barony give two different styles of piracy, one built on smuggling and secrecy and one on wealth, bounties and imports.
Players who like to customize their people. Sharkkin, Aqualon and the Merfolk trait add new forms, and the new Tomes add magic options for the water and ice themes.
Anyone weighing the pass against single purchases. The pass bundles four pieces of content, two of them not due until 2027, so it suits players planning to stay with the game through next year.
What is still unknown?
The sources do not list a standalone price for The Silver Seas, system requirements, or the length of the new content. Paradox gives Court of the Archfey and Forge of the Firstborn only as quarters.
Next step: open the Silver Seas page on Paradox Interactive’s site to see the current price on your preferred store, then compare it with the Expansion Pass 4 listing.
