World's Edge Revives Previously Scrapped Age of Empires 3 DLC with Baltic Powers Expansion

Developer World's Edge has seemingly revived an Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition DLC that was reportedly canceled last year. However, all is forgiven, as the upcoming Baltic Powers expansion promises to deliver two new civilizations, over 25 new maps, and much more, with its release set for September 10.

A Look Back: The Cancelation of the Unnamed Expansion

Early last year, World's Edge announced the cancelation of an unnamed expansion that had been revealed the year prior. The developer admitted that the announcement was "premature," as the team had not yet made significant progress on the project before sharing their plans with the community.

At the time, details about the scrapped expansion were sparse. However, a small teaser from production director Earnest Yuen in 2024 hinted at its potential focus, showcasing the flags of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Denmark. (Thanks, PC Gamer!)

The Baltic Powers Expansion: A Welcome Surprise

In a surprising turn of events, World's Edge has now unveiled The Baltic Powers, an expansion that introduces the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as playable civilizations. While the developer hasn't explicitly confirmed that The Baltic Powers is the same expansion that was shelved last year, the evidence strongly suggests this to be the case.

According to the developer's announcement post: "The Baltic Powers brings two new civilizations, new Challenge Scenarios, new game modes, more than 25 maps, and over 50 hero customizations. More importantly, it is built around what Age 3 fans value most: new strategic problems to solve, new matchups to learn, new ways to master the map, and new reasons to return for a game they love."

Early Access and Beta Availability

The best part for eager fans? You can already try out the Danes and the Poles right now through The Baltic Powers' open beta, which is currently available on Steam.

Sunsetting the Free Trial

On a related note, Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition's free trial will be retired on Steam as of August 13. The studio expressed gratitude to players who discovered the game via the free trial, invited friends to the community, tried rotating civilizations, and joined the battlefield. For those who wish to continue enjoying the game, purchasing the full release will be necessary by next month.

Other Strategy Games to Explore

While you wait for The Baltic Powers expansion, check out some of the best strategy games available right now to keep your tactical skills sharp.