Today, Paradox Interactive announced that Age of Wonders 4: Rise from Ruin would launch on March 9, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X| S. Anyone who owns Expansion Pass 3 will receive Rise from Ruin at no additional cost.
Age of Wonders 4: Rise from Ruin introduces the Nomad Culture, a Harefolk physical form, three additional tomes, and punishing world map challenges in the Astral Barrens, a corrupted wasteland where magic can backfire, and survival is not guaranteed.
The Nomads are masters of mobility on the battlefield, able to carry entire cities across the realm in relentless pursuit of conquest and power and drain the land for potent essences before moving on, leaving only desolation behind. You can choose between the Conquerors for fast, aggressive raids that seize enemy territory, or Scavengers to harvest ancient wonders and battlefield loot for growing power.
The newest form, Harefolk, features a heritage built on survival through speed, instinct, and an unyielding will to live. They thrive where others fall, turning agility and cunning into the ultimate weapons of survival. The three new tomes include:
- Tome of the Warband – Build strong armies and rise units through the ranks
- Tome of Sand Stalkers – Spread sands, blind enemies, and summon desert guardians
- Tome of the Warlord – Conquer the realm with mighty warriors and infernal allies
The Astral Barrens is a new terrain type born of a catastrophic magical calamity, where magic itself has been corrupted. This unforgiving wasteland drains mana, halts regeneration, and punishes spellcasters as unstable energies cause spells to backfire and living magic to wither. There are also 20 additional handcrafted regions, a new realm trait that threatens the use of magic, and much more.
All players of Age of Wonders 4 will also receive the free “Scorpion Update” content patch, releasing the same day as Rise from Ruin. In addition to quality of life updates and fixes, in-game unit movement and combat balance are receiving a substantial overhaul, alongside new customization and pantheon options.
For more information on this and previous Age of Wonders 4 DLCs, like Giant Kings and Archon Prophecy, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily for updates.