Today, Paradox Interactive officially announced Europa Universalis 5: Across the Pillars, which is set to arrive on October 28, 2026, alongside the free 1.4 Rio Salado update.
Europa Universalis 5: Across the Pillars is a new Chronicle Pack centered on the historic struggle for control of the Strait of Gibraltar and the surrounding regions of southern Iberia and North Africa. The pack places players in the middle of the competition between Castile, Marinid Morocco, and Granada as they fight over the remnants of Muslim rule in Iberia.
At the heart of the expansion is The Battle of the Strait, a new historical Situation that introduces new decisions, cabinet actions, country interactions, events, and special actions built around the struggle for control of Gibraltar and the surrounding region. The result of The Battle of the Strait will determine which nation can move into the Golden Century Situation, allowing the victor to continue projecting its influence beyond the immediate conflict.
The new content is designed to expand the historical possibilities for Castile and Spain, Morocco and Granada while giving players additional ways to shape the political and military development of the region. The Chronicle Pack also introduces new expedition content exclusive to Across the Pillars, which includes explorations, gold caravans, and treasure fleets, adding new opportunities for Iberian and Maghrebi nations to pursue wealth and expand their influence.
Political and administrative systems receive additional depth through new bureaucracy options and the reworked Iberian Union. The updated Iberian Wedding scenario lets players pursue either a centralized Iberian monarchy or a federalized Iberian state, with new laws and policies offering different approaches to uniting the peninsula’s thrones.
Iberian nations receive 12 new bureaucracy options inspired by Spanish and Portuguese history, while Maghrebi nations gain eight options based on North African history. Europa Universalis 5: Across the Pillars further expands the historical event pool across Iberia and the Maghreb.
New general events are joined by dynamic content for Castile and Spain, Portugal, Aragon, Navarre, Morocco, Granada, and other nations in the region, plus dozens of new technological advances that provide additional research options tailored to Iberian and Maghrebi nations. The expansion also adds a range of visual and audio content, including new unit and ship models, portrait assets, event illustrations, monuments and Works of Art.
The soundtrack adds nine new songs: six Castilian-themed tracks performed with baroque instruments and vocals in medieval Spanish, alongside three Moroccan-inspired pieces drawing on 16th-century call-and-response music and featuring instruments, such as the guembri and qraqeb.
Europa Universalis 5: Across the Pillars launches on October 28, 2026, for $19.99, £16.99, or €19.99, and will also be included with the Europa Universalis 5: Premium Edition.
