Every Crusader Kings 3 DLC explained: what All Under Heaven (out Oct 28, 2025) adds, the Chapter I–V lineups, cosmetic packs, and what to buy first in 2026.
All Under Heaven CK 3 Release Date & DLC Guide — Every Expansion & What to Buy (2026)
Quick answer: CK3 currently has 4 Major Expansions + 4 Core Expansions + 3 Flavor Packs + 4 Event Packs + over a dozen cosmetic/music packs, sold in Chapter (annual bundle) waves. The newest Major Expansion, All Under Heaven (East Asia), released October 28, 2025 — not an "unconfirmed 2026 rumor," but a map-scale expansion that genuinely adds China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The next wave, Chapter 5, kicks off with By God Alone in September 2026.
This guide walks through every Chapter, expansion by expansion, and gives a 2026 buying order.
Official resources: Steam store page · All Under Heaven Steam page · CK3 official Wiki DLC page · Wikipedia
All Under Heaven Explained (4th Major Expansion, Released October 28, 2025)
This is the biggest map expansion in CK3 history: the map stretches east into East Asia, adding three brand-new regions — China, Japan, and Southeast Asia — each with its own playstyle:
- China · Mandate of Heaven: a new Hegemony title (above empires), the Dynastic Cycle system, Meritocracy government (advance via merit and civil-service exams), and an Imperial Treasury (fund grand projects, respond to disasters).
- Japan · Rise of the Shogunate: warrior houses, the Shogun and Kampaku positions, court etiquette and scandals — or pick the Yamato royal house and restore imperial power.
- Southeast Asia · God-Kings and Temple Empires: Mandala government, a Devaraja god-king ruling a tributary network, and tributary mission systems.
- The Silk Road: even outside the region, you profit from Silk Road wealth and innovation — including a fifth tech group (Silk Road).
All Under Heaven costs HK$198 / roughly $25 tier (Paradox's Major Expansion pricing) and is part of Chapter 4. If you want the full East Asia content and care about value, the Chapter 4 bundle is the better deal.
How Chapter Bundles Work: CK3's DLC Model
Paradox packages a year of content into a Chapter: 1 expansion + 1 flavor/event pack + 1 cosmetic pack + 1 free patch. Five chapters so far:
| Chapter | Contents | Release window |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter I | Royal Court (Major) + Northern Lords (Flavor) + Fate of Iberia (Flavor) + Fashion of the Abbasid Court (Cosmetic) | 2021-2022 |
| Chapter II | Tours & Tournaments (Major) + Wards & Wardens (Event) + Legacy of Persia (Flavor) + Elegance of the Empire (Cosmetic) | 2023 |
| Chapter III | Legends of the Dead (Core) + Roads to Power (Major) + Wandering Nobles (Event) + Couture of the Capets (Cosmetic) | 2024 |
| Chapter IV | Khans of the Steppe (Core) + All Under Heaven (Major) + Coronations (Event) + Crowns of the World (Cosmetic) | 2025 |
| Chapter V | By God Alone (Core, September 30, 2026) + Silk & Silver (Major, Q4 2026) + Songs of the Realm (Music) + Symbols of Authority (Cosmetic) | 2026 |
The frequently searched Fashion of the Abbasid Court is Chapter I's cosmetic pack (September 1, 2020, appid 1296731): a full wardrobe set for Middle Eastern/North African characters. Pure cosmetics, no mechanics — worth it only if you're an appearance-driven roleplayer.
The Four Major Expansions, One by One (The Value Basis)
- Royal Court (February 8, 2022): throne room + court audiences + artifacts + culture hybrid/divergence systems. The foundation of the culture game; still relevant.
- Tours & Tournaments (May 11, 2023): the travel system — grand tours, grand tournaments, grand weddings, knight orders. The community's consensus pick for "most worth buying"; it reshapes the mid-to-late game.
- Roads to Power (September 24, 2024): the Byzantine administrative government + Landless Adventurer gameplay + the 1178 start date (free update). A must for "mercenary-to-emperor" runs or Byzantine court politics.
- All Under Heaven (October 28, 2025): the East Asia map + Mandate/Shogunate/Mandala. A must for map-expansion fans — and the final answer to the "CK3 is too Eurocentric" criticism.
Core Expansions (smaller, focused on one mechanic): Legends of the Dead (legends & the Black Death), Khans of the Steppe (nomads), By God Alone (September 30, 2026, tenets & spirituality). Flavor Packs: Northern Lords (Vikings), Fate of Iberia (the Iberian struggle), Legacy of Persia (the Iranian intermezzo).
Chapter 5 Preview: By God Alone & Silk & Silver
- By God Alone (September 30, 2026): Chapter 5's Core Expansion. Per dev diaries, it focuses on a Tenets rework and a new Spiritual Fulfillment mechanic — a major religion overhaul. Track the diaries with our CK3 dev diary guide.
- Silk & Silver (Q4 2026): Chapter 5's Major Expansion, built around the trade system (diaries already previewed the "trade system" vision) — likely wired to the Silk Road and eastern economies.
- Already out for Chapter 5: Songs of the Realm (13 tracks) and Symbols of Authority (crowns/headdresses cosmetic pack), released April 20, 2026 with the 1.19 Scribe update.
Grand strategy has a "bought but never used" trap: Royal Court's court systems need a high enough title rank to feel it; Roads to Power's administrative government is Byzantine-only. Decide which playstyle you actually want, then pick the tier. For the patch cadence behind all this, see the CK3 updates & Chapters guide.
Want to learn the game before deciding? Run through the CK3 beginner's guide — the base game alone is dozens of hours of content.
2026 Buying Order
- One expansion only → Tours & Tournaments (travel/tournament systems, region-agnostic, community consensus #1).
- Want the map → All Under Heaven (East Asia; the single biggest content change).
- Want roleplay/adventure → Roads to Power (Landless Adventurer is playable across the whole map).
- Religion fan → By God Alone (wait for word of mouth after September).
- Best value → Chapter bundles (buy a bundle if you want 2+ items).
Console players: DLC arrives later on consoles than PC — check the CK3 platforms guide before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was All Under Heaven released?
October 28, 2025 (Chapter 4's Major Expansion). Old "unconfirmed 2026" rumors are outdated.
What does All Under Heaven add?
The East Asia map (China/Japan/Southeast Asia) + Mandate of Heaven/Dynastic Cycle/Meritocracy government + Shogunate & Kampaku + Mandala god-kings + Silk Road economy and tech. CK3's largest map expansion to date.
How many DLCs does CK3 have?
4 Major Expansions + 4 Core Expansions + 3 Flavor Packs + 4 Event Packs + 10+ cosmetic/music/creator packs (growing since the 2020 launch), plus 5 Chapter bundles.
Which CK3 DLC should I buy first?
Tours & Tournaments (broad appeal) → Roads to Power (roleplay) → All Under Heaven (map). Want all three? Buy the Chapter bundle.
What is Fashion of the Abbasid Court?
Chapter I's cosmetic pack (September 1, 2020): a full Middle Eastern/North African wardrobe and accessory set. Pure cosmetics, no mechanics. Steam appid 1296731.
Do I need to buy every DLC to play?
No — the base game is complete and deep; every DLC is an optional enhancement. Free patches deliver plenty of QoL and mechanics to everyone, so buy what you want on sale.
Related Guides
- CK3 Platforms Guide — Console & Crossplay
- CK3 Mods Guide — Game of Thrones Mod & Best Mods
- CK 3 The Higher Mysteries Mod — AGOT Magic & Spells
- Crusader Wars CK3 Mod Guide — Total War Battles & Install
Last Updated: August 12, 2026