Age of Empires III: DE adds The Baltic Powers on September 10, Steam open beta live now

The Baltic Powers launches for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on September 10, 2026. World’s Edge announced the expansion on July 23 and opened a Steam open beta the same day. The DLC adds two civilizations, the Danes and the Poles, along with Challenge Scenarios, new game modes, more than 20 maps, and over 50 hero customizations.

The Danes are built around information, naval control, and layered defense. Their Customs House can use shipments from other players, while Round Churches protect villagers and Snaphane plus Gunboat levies help stabilize under pressure. The Poles lean into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth fantasy with lower building costs, Folwark economy, Sejm bonuses, and heavy cavalry options including Winged Hussars and the Hetman.

The expansion also adds Commonwealth Charge and Havana Heat as score-focused Challenge Scenarios. Commonwealth Charge asks players to defend the Polish-Lithuanian realm and time cavalry strikes, while Havana Heat sets a Spanish defense against a British assault with a 1,000-casualty target. Regicide introduces a Regent kill condition for instant victory, and Independence removes Home City support to put more weight on core strategy.

The immediate player timeline is simple: the Steam open beta is available now, the DLC launches September 10, and the existing Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition free trial on Steam ends August 13. Reddit discussion is focused on whether the new civilizations and balance changes can bring regular players back without destabilizing ranked play.

Sources: Reddit, Age of Empires