The Viking Sagas DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is available now, adding three new civilizations and a three-part campaign set in Northern Europe primarily during the Viking Age.
Three New Civilizations
The DLC introduces the Danes, the Saxons, and the Varangians, each with unique units, technologies, and shared architecture. The Danes dominate the North Sea region with stout infantry and powerful siege engines, sail swift longships to raid, and plunder gold and resources from every destroyed building. Their Fishing Ships and Villagers are more productive at gathering food. The Saxons use strong fortifications and infantry armies, supported by the organized fyrd system for levying foot soldiers from towns and estates. Alfred the Great’s naval reforms created a fleet that can challenge the Danes at sea. The Varangians turned east, navigating the Baltic Sea and the rivers of Russia to settle and trade as far as the Black and Caspian Seas. They earn extra gold from a variety of sources and have strong cavalry, navy, and Varangian Guards.
The DLC also includes a Vikings civilization rework that the announcement describes as deadlier and more authentic. New regional units include the Varangian Guard, Mounted Crossbowman, and Longship, and dozens of new scenario editor assets are included, such as burnt-out buildings and flaming birds.
Harald Hardrada Campaign
The campaign follows Harald Hardrada and his quest to become the greatest Viking there ever was. It is a three-part epic with 15 scenarios: Part 1 “The Exiled Prince”, Part 2 “The Hard Ruler”, and Part 3 “The Last Viking”. Players travel across the medieval world, from winter battlefields of Scandinavia to the streets of Constantinople as an elite Varangian, and to the Viking invasion of England in 1066. Along the way, players forge bonds with the stoic Christian Ulf Ospaksson and the passionate pagan Halldor Snorrason, and prove themselves worthy of Ellisif, the princess of Kyiv.
Broader Age of Empires News
The Viking Sagas continues a period of expansion for the franchise, which includes releases such as Age of Empires Mobile. The DLC announcement was shared by World’s Edge, the Microsoft-owned studio behind Age of Empires.
