The annual Paradox Conference that took place last week in Miami has revealed that the Scandinavian developer is hard at work on some new titles, such as Runemaster or Hearts of Iron 4, as well as an expansion pack for their flagship strategy game, Europa Universalis IV. Europa Universalis IV’s next expansion will be called Wealth of Nations, and it’s expected to be released sometime during Q2 2014, which means late spring or early summer.
“Wealth of Nations will bring several new features to the game, focusing on trade, including the ability to secretly provoke trade conflicts, hire pirates to steal goods from your competitors, establish the East India Company and create a bustling trade capital for your nation. With several new possible ways to direct the wealth of the world into an empire’s coffers, Wealth of Nations will serve the needs of every gamer’s inner plutocrat.” explained developer Paradox in an open press conference.
Controlling the seas will be crucial in Wealth of Nations
The expansion will greatly improve the already complex trade system of Europa Universalis IV, adding privateers, trading companies and market conflicts. According to some recent descriptions of the Market, the player will be able to “act covertly to instigate trade conflicts among the competition, stifling income and leaving yourself atop the economic heap”. You can also force your luck by hiring privateers to sabotage enemy shipments and slow down the growth of enemy economies, with the risk of provoking open war, should you get caught. And you don’t want an unnecessary war in Europa Universalis IV, mind you!
Players will also be able to set up an official trading port and establish trade connections and routes, developing complex and unstoppable economic empires, such as the East India Company.
We’re eager to see what Paradox has in store for Europa Universalis IV, and Wealth of Nations seems to develop the strategy game well enough to make this future expansion worth keeping an eye on.