Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven Launches October 28 – Paradox’s Largest Expansion Adds China, Japan, and Southeast Asia

The Medieval World Finally Gets Complete

Paradox Interactive announced October 28, 2025 as the release date for Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven, the fourth major expansion for their medieval grand strategy game. Revealed October 7-8 alongside a new trailer, the expansion adds China, Japan, and Southeast Asia to the playable map – regions never before included in any Crusader Kings title. Game Director Alexander Oltner called it “the largest expansion in Crusader Kings history,” representing the culmination of a long-standing vision to depict the entire medieval world rather than just Europe and the Middle East.

The expansion will cost $29.99/£24.99/€29.99 or be included as part of the Chapter IV expansion pass for players who purchased that bundle. This pricing positions All Under Heaven as a premium expansion comparable to Europa Universalis IV’s major DLCs, reflecting the substantial content additions. The release comes just one week before Europa Universalis V launches November 4, creating an unusually concentrated period of major Paradox releases targeting their core grand strategy audience.

Three Distinct Regional Systems

All Under Heaven doesn’t simply add landmass to Crusader Kings III’s map – it introduces three completely distinct government and power systems tailored to historical East Asian political structures. Each region features unique mechanics that fundamentally change how players approach dynasty building, succession, and territorial expansion compared to the feudal European gameplay CK3 players know.

China introduces the Hegemony title, a new highest tier of power that reigns supreme over all empires in the Chinese region. Players navigate the Dynastic Cycle – a living system modeling the historical rise and fall of Chinese dynasties through periods of stability and chaos. The Celestial government system unique to China allows players to earn Merit through deeds or Imperial Examinations, gaining favor and influence in ways impossible under European feudalism. Managing the Imperial Treasury becomes crucial for funding Great Projects, defending against disasters, or expanding influence through statecraft.

Japan’s Shogunate Struggle

Japanese gameplay centers on navigating intricate courtly systems to become either a mighty Shogun – the military dictator holding true power – or a Kampaku regent controlling the emperor from behind the throne. Players can strengthen positions through alliances, intrigue, and ritual, or unite the various houses through raw military might with samurai armies. The expansion allows players to lead the Imperial Yamato house attempting to restore actual power to the Emperor, ushering an age of imperial grandeur rather than military rule.

The mechanics emphasize Japan’s unique cultural traditions where honor and scandal intertwine, shaping the lives of lords and vassals alike. Unlike European feudalism’s focus on land ownership and inheritance, Japanese power dynamics revolve around court influence, ritual propriety, and the delicate balance between nominal imperial authority and actual military control. This creates entirely different strategic considerations – a scandal damaging your honor might matter more than losing territory.

Southeast Asian Temple Empires

Southeast Asia introduces the Devaraja system – god-kings ruling with the Mandala Government that unites tributaries into vast, temple-centered empires. Unlike the direct vassal relationships of European feudalism or the centralized bureaucracy of China, Mandala government creates concentric circles of influence radiating from powerful temple complexes. Players build monumental temple facilities in jungle settings and compel weaker kingdoms to pay tribute through a system of missions and favor.

As a tributary ruler, players perform Tributary Missions to increase favor with their god-king overlord, creating asymmetrical power dynamics where smaller realms can thrive under powerful protectors rather than being directly conquered and absorbed. This models historical Southeast Asian political structures where kingdoms like Angkor maintained hegemony through religious prestige and tributary relationships rather than direct administration.

The Silk Road Connects Everything

Even players who never touch East Asian starts will feel All Under Heaven’s impact through the expanded Silk Road system. Innovations and riches from China travel west along trade routes, benefiting clever European and Middle Eastern rulers who position themselves strategically. The mechanic allows players far beyond China’s borders to profit from Eastern wealth and technological advancement without needing to conquer Asian territories directly.

This creates new strategic considerations for traditional CK3 campaigns. A Byzantine Empire player might prioritize controlling Silk Road termini in Anatolia to access Chinese innovations faster. A Khazaria or Sogdian ruler positioned along central trade routes can grow wealthy from merchant tolls without controlling productive territory. The system adds historical accuracy – medieval Europe did benefit enormously from Asian trade and technology – while providing gameplay incentives for players to care about events happening thousands of miles from their capitals.

Natural Disasters and Great Projects

All Under Heaven introduces natural disasters affecting every realm on the expanded map, not just Asian territories. Earthquakes, floods, plagues, and other catastrophes create unpredictable challenges that players must respond to with emergency measures and long-term infrastructure investments. The Imperial Treasury in China specifically includes disaster response as a major expenditure category, reflecting how managing natural calamities was central to demonstrating the Mandate of Heaven.

Great Projects expand significantly beyond the system introduced in earlier DLC. Players can construct monumental temples in Southeast Asia, fortifications along the Great Wall, or other massive undertakings that require years of investment but provide lasting bonuses. These projects serve both mechanical purposes (actual gameplay benefits) and roleplaying ones (visible monuments to dynastic achievement), creating long-term goals beyond just conquest and inheritance management.

New Historical Bookmarks

The expansion adds multiple new historical starting bookmarks providing fresh perspectives and challenges specific to East Asian history. While Paradox hasn’t detailed all bookmarks, the inclusion allows players to start as iconic characters from different periods rather than always beginning in 867 or 1066. This addresses a longstanding community request for more varied start dates that capture specific historical moments beyond the default options.

These bookmarks will likely include periods like the height of Tang Dynasty power, the Mongol invasions, the Warring States period in Japan, and the peak of Khmer Empire influence in Southeast Asia. Each provides distinct geopolitical situations and challenges compared to both each other and the traditional European starts, exponentially increasing replay value for veteran players who’ve exhausted Western scenarios.

Artistic and Cultural Immersion

Beyond mechanical systems, All Under Heaven adds extensive cultural flavor through new throne rooms, events, traditions, and character art specific to East Asian cultures. The October 7 developer diary focused specifically on character art showcased the distinct visual styles for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Mongol, and Southeast Asian characters. Each culture receives appropriate clothing, facial features, and artistic representation rather than just reskinning European character models.

New events explore East Asian cultural, religious, and philosophical traditions. Confucian filial piety, Buddhist detachment, Shinto ritual purity, and other belief systems shape character decisions and storylines differently than Christian, Muslim, or pagan events in base game content. This cultural specificity matters enormously for immersion and historical authenticity – Asian cultures shouldn’t just be mechanical alternatives to European gameplay but feel genuinely different in tone and values.

Technical Scale and Development Challenges

Game Director Alexander Oltner acknowledged that creating the largest Crusader Kings expansion ever posed significant development challenges. “This vision for the series predates my leadership, and it is exciting to bring it to fruition,” Oltner stated, indicating All Under Heaven represents years of planning extending back before his tenure as director began.

The technical challenges include massively expanding the playable map while maintaining performance, creating three entirely distinct government systems that feel meaningfully different, ensuring AI can competently handle new mechanics, balancing interactions between European and Asian gameplay, and providing enough cultural flavor that Asian starts don’t feel generic or underdeveloped compared to the European content refined over five years of patches and DLC.

Community Response – Cautiously Hyped

The r/CrusaderKings and r/paradoxplaza subreddit reactions show excitement tempered by concerns about execution. Many players expressed amazement that Paradox scheduled All Under Heaven for October 28 just one week before Europa Universalis V launches November 4, creating an unusually concentrated period of major grand strategy releases. “October 28th for the massive CK3 expansion, November 4th for EU5, that’s a serious bonanza for their core audience,” noted one highly upvoted comment.

Some skepticism exists about whether Paradox can deliver three genuinely distinct government systems rather than superficial reskins of European feudalism. The Mandate of Heaven system in Crusader Kings II’s Jade Dragon DLC was criticized for being underdeveloped, though that expansion only added China as off-map influence rather than making it fully playable. Community members are watching closely to see if All Under Heaven’s China feels as mechanically rich as the European gameplay refined over years.

Pricing discussions show mixed reactions. At $29.99, All Under Heaven costs more than typical CK3 DLC but less than the $40-50 some anticipated for the scope described. Players who own the Chapter IV expansion pass will receive it as part of that bundle, making the effective cost lower for committed fans who pre-purchased the season content.

Comparison to Europa Universalis IV

Paradox’s other major series, Europa Universalis, has included Asia in its scope since the beginning, making All Under Heaven’s addition somewhat overdue from a franchise perspective. However, Crusader Kings’ focus on character-driven dynasty management versus EU’s nation-state grand strategy required fundamentally different approaches to modeling Asian political systems. EU’s abstract monarch points and government reforms don’t translate well to CK’s emphasis on individual rulers, marriages, and succession.

The challenge Paradox faced was avoiding making Asian gameplay just feel like European mechanics with different names. The Hegemony system, Shogunate mechanics, and Mandala government represent genuine attempts to model how power actually worked in these regions rather than forcing them into feudal frameworks that don’t historically apply. Whether the execution succeeds will determine if All Under Heaven becomes a beloved expansion or a missed opportunity.

Release Timing and Competition

Launching All Under Heaven on October 28, 2025, places it directly before the crucial holiday shopping season but also uncomfortably close to Europa Universalis V’s November 4 launch. This creates potential cannibalization concerns – both titles target the same hardcore grand strategy audience, and many players may not have time or budget for both simultaneously.

However, the spacing might be intentional. Players can enjoy a week with All Under Heaven before EU5 consumes attention, then potentially return to CK3’s Asian content after the EU5 honeymoon period ends. The October date also positions All Under Heaven as a strong contender for holiday gift purchases and sales events, potentially reaching casual players who wouldn’t buy it at launch.

Post-Launch Support and Patch 1.18

All Under Heaven releases alongside Patch 1.18, which will include free updates for all CK3 owners regardless of DLC purchase. While full patch notes haven’t been revealed, Paradox typically includes significant quality-of-life improvements, balance adjustments, and minor feature additions in major expansion patches. Previous free updates have added features like character barbershops, improved UI elements, and mechanical refinements that benefit everyone.

Post-launch support will be crucial for All Under Heaven’s success. If Asian mechanics prove unbalanced, buggy, or underdeveloped compared to European gameplay, Paradox will need to commit to substantial patching and refinement rather than moving on to the next DLC. The community will be watching closely to see if China, Japan, and Southeast Asia receive the same development attention as Europe has over CK3’s five-year lifespan.

FAQs

When does Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven release?

All Under Heaven launches October 28, 2025, for PC via Steam and other platforms. It will also be available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles where Crusader Kings III is supported.

How much does All Under Heaven cost?

The expansion costs $29.99/£24.99/€29.99. It’s also included as part of the Chapter IV expansion pass for players who purchased that bundle.

What regions does All Under Heaven add?

The expansion adds China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia including kingdoms like Angkor (Cambodia), Srivijaya, and others to the playable map for the first time in Crusader Kings series history.

Is All Under Heaven the largest CK3 expansion?

Yes, Game Director Alexander Oltner confirmed it’s “the largest expansion in Crusader Kings history,” surpassing previous major DLCs like Royal Court, Tours & Tournaments, and Fate of Iberia.

Do I need All Under Heaven to enjoy CK3?

No, the base game and previous expansions remain fully playable. All Under Heaven is optional content for players interested in Asian gameplay. Patch 1.18 will include free updates for all players regardless of DLC ownership.

What are the key new mechanics?

China’s Mandate of Heaven/Hegemony system, Dynastic Cycle, and Meritocracy; Japan’s Shogunate and Kampaku regency systems; Southeast Asia’s Devaraja god-kings and Mandala government; expanded Silk Road trade; natural disasters; and Great Projects.

Will this work with my existing saves?

Typically major expansions are not compatible with saves from previous patches. Players will likely need to start new campaigns to experience All Under Heaven content, though Paradox may provide limited backwards compatibility.

When is Europa Universalis V releasing?

Europa Universalis V launches November 4, 2025, just one week after All Under Heaven. Both target similar grand strategy audiences, creating an unusually concentrated release period for Paradox.

Conclusion

Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven represents Paradox’s most ambitious expansion yet, fulfilling the long-standing vision of depicting the entire medieval world rather than just Europe and surrounding regions. The October 28, 2025 release brings China’s Mandate of Heaven, Japan’s Shogunate struggles, and Southeast Asian god-king temple empires into the playable map with genuinely distinct mechanical systems tailored to historical Asian political structures. Whether Paradox successfully delivers three fully developed regional gameplay experiences rather than superficial reskins of European feudalism will determine if this becomes a beloved expansion or a missed opportunity. The $29.99 price point reflects the substantial scope – this isn’t just new land to conquer but fundamentally different ways to play Crusader Kings III. The uncomfortably close release timing with Europa Universalis V launching just one week later creates potential audience cannibalization concerns, but it also positions both titles for strong holiday season performance. For hardcore grand strategy fans, November 2025 will be overwhelming in the best possible way, with two major releases from Paradox’s flagship franchises arriving within days of each other. All Under Heaven’s success ultimately depends on execution – ambitious promises about regional distinctiveness and mechanical depth must translate into polished, balanced, engaging gameplay that feels as developed as the European content refined over five years of patches and DLC.