Cancelled Age of Empires III: DE DLC Returns for September

By Sakib Khandokar, Lead Analyst Published Jul 24, 2026, 2:02 PM UTC 2 min read

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Cancelled Age of Empires III: DE DLC Returns for September

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is getting its previously cancelled expansion after all. Dubbed The Baltic Powers, the DLC has officially re-emerged from the annals of cancelled content history and is slated for a September 10, 2026 release on PC via Steam.

Quick Facts

Expansion Name: The Baltic Powers
Release Date: September 10, 2026
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Open Beta: July 23 to August 6, 2026
New Civilizations: Denmark and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

From Cancellation to Revival

World's Edge originally teased plans to add Denmark and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the February 2024 New Year, New Age stream. However, developers announced in January 2025 that the DLC had been cancelled. The team explained at the time that pushing to include the game in the stream meant content was announced before it had been built.

Now, the canned project is back on track. Along with the two new civilizations, The Baltic Powers expansion delivers new game modes, maps, and challenges to the real-time strategy title.

Civilizations, Maps, and Game Modes

The Danes arrive as a civilization built around economic intelligence, naval control, and layered defense, tailored for players who like to read the battlefield and turn information into an advantage. Meanwhile, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth functions as an agrarian powerhouse designed to translate economic momentum into a devastating cavalry force.

The expansion also introduces maps based on historical conflicts, including the Livonian War, the Dano-Swedish Wars, and the wars of the Three Kingdoms. The Polish-Lithuanian faction receives a unique challenge scenario focused on defending the realm against relentless attacks and timing Winged Hussar strikes.

Two general game modes accompany the release: Regicide mode, which awards an instant win for eliminating the enemy Regent, and Independence mode, which requires players to secure a victory without support from a home city.

Open Beta and Free Trial Updates

Players wanting an early look can participate in the free open beta running from July 23 to August 6, 2026, with instructions available via Steam and the official Age of Empires support page. Additionally, the time-unlimited free trial version of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition currently on Steam is set to be removed on August 13, 2026.