14 DAY TRIAL // Paradox Interactive has announced that the fourth expansion for its grand strategy title Europa Universalis III, called Divine Wind, is set to be released via digital distribution on December 14, with fans of the series set to pay 19.99 dollars for it.
The new expansion requires gamers to have EU III Complete installed along with the Heir to the Throne package which was released last year.
Divine Wind introduces a new look to the game, inspired by the way Victoria II showed the world map, and also increases the detail level for the game world.
The main focus of Divine Wind, as the name implies, is on the Far East, with China and Japan getting special attention.
In Japan the expansion creates a new game mechanics with four Daimyo leaders that need to fight to get the title of Shogun and influence the nominal Emperor, with internal divisions that are able to tear the country apart balanced by the possibility of a great leader emerging to lead the Empire to glory.
In China Divine Wind also introduces factions, with just one of them able to claim the Mandate of Heavens and unify the country to make it a great power of the world.
There are also mechanics linked to horde nations and to how they conduct warfare.
Divine Wind also balances Europa Universalis III by making the Far East somewhat richer and more attractive to traditional Western powers, leading to the potential for more historical conflicts.
The developers at Paradox Interactive are also introducing new options to the diplomacy system, making peace more interesting and increasing the complexity of negotiations when ending a war.
Given the longevity of Europa Universalis III I would not be surprised to see another expansion for the gran strategy title announced for next year.
Here's the latest trailer that Paradox Interactive has released for Europa Universalis III: Divine Wind: