Age of Empires IV Raiders of the North: times, saves and co-op

Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 accompanies Raiders of the North, which launches on October 29, 2026. Older saved matches will not load after updating. Before buying the expansion for co-op, check which Crucible missions both players own.

Finish a match before updating

The compatibility warning covers previous-build saves and observable matches, not an announced account reset. Complete unfinished sessions before installing. A backup alone cannot make an older file compatible.

Single-player pause with commands while paused is deferred to a later patch before the end of 2026. Follow the preview's developer correction, not its superseded bullet.

Steam unlocks later on October 29

The official Steam time-zone announcement gives the release moment above. That is 1 p.m. in New York, 5 p.m. in London and 9 p.m. in Dubai on October 29; in Beijing it is already 1 a.m. on October 30. These are conversions of the Steam announcement, not a separately verified deployment time for Update 17.0 on every platform.

Before organizing a group, agree on a time zone as well as a date. Leave room for the download and first launch rather than making the storefront unlock your exact meeting time. A pre-order receipt proves a purchase, not that your local installation has finished updating.

What the expansion buys

The expansion adds Vikings, Scots, four Crucible missions and two biomes. Steam requires Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition.

The US Microsoft PC and Xbox listings showed $19.99 on October 29; the console product supports Xbox One and Series X|S. Steam's regional listings showed $19.99 in the US, £14.99 in the UK and ¥2,999 in Japan. The publisher says PS5 purchasing opens on launch day; its local price was not verified. Check the amount for your own account rather than converting another store's price.

Vikings change how you expand

The Vikings automatically recruit Villagers at no resource cost until their capacity is reached; Longhouses raise that limit. Their Sagas reward tasks such as raiding, hunting and trading. Longships combine ranged attacks with transport, gaining health and extra arrows from the troops aboard. These systems suggest a different opening routine from a familiar civilization, so learn the population and transport rules before relying on an old build order.

Scots reward a protected food economy

For the Scots, Highland Cattle graze Berry Bushes for bonus Food without consuming the bushes. Tower Houses produce and shelter the animals while also acting as Outposts and adding population capacity. The Mustering Hall can rapidly muster troops for Food, with nearby military buildings strengthening this system. Protecting the cattle and planning those buildings are therefore useful first-match priorities, rather than treating every new structure as a cosmetic replacement.

Crucible access has two rules

Either Dynasties of the East or Raiders of the North unlocks core Crucible features: co-op, Talent Tracks and Boon Ascension. Raiders adds four exclusive missions, and each DLC has its own set. Dynasties owners receive the core changes without buying Raiders. Both premade teammates need the selected mission’s DLC.

Standard quick-match only requires either DLC and can match you into unowned missions. Premade groups do not get that exception. For co-op in Conqueror or Custom, invite a partner to your lobby. Solo and co-op share progression but retain separate records.

Console subscriptions and crossplay checks

PlayStation's official game FAQ requires PS Plus for multiplayer, while single-player remains available without it. A Microsoft account is required when playing with people on other platforms. The FAQ also says progress and trophies do not transfer from other platforms. Check the account setup before treating a new PS5 purchase as a continuation of your PC adventure.

Xbox's add-on listing requires Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate for online console multiplayer. This multiplayer requirement is separate from the paid DLC entitlement. Do not assume that a subscription which lets you launch the base game also includes Raiders; check the expansion's own purchase or ownership status.

For another recent example of why content ownership and play access need separate checks, see the PS Plus November games and membership rules. The relevant rule is always the one for your own game and platform.

Check your PC and update queue

Steam's minimum requirements are a CPU with AVX support, Windows 10 or 11, DirectX 12, 8 GB RAM and 50 GB free space. The storage figure is not a patch download size. Korean and Simplified Chinese list interface, full audio and subtitles; check the store's language table for Japanese.

What still needs confirmation

This guide is based on official announcements and storefronts checked before the launch window, not hands-on play. Exact platform download sizes, real-world balance and launch-day reliability remain to be seen. If you only want a stable evening with friends, wait until both installations are ready and the intended lobby works before planning a long session.