Finish any saved games you want to complete before updating to AoE4 17.0. Saves and watchable matches created on earlier versions will no longer load or replay, according to the official update preview for Age of Empires IV, published on October 22, 2026.
The warning concerns compatibility with the new version; it does not announce file deletion or a general loss of progress. If you have an unfinished game or an older match you want to watch again, do so before making the transition.
Raiders of the North arrives on October 29
Raiders of the North is announced for October 29. That is the expansion’s release date, not a confirmed rollout date for version 17.0. The team also describes the update preview as a selection of planned changes, subject to change rather than a complete set of patch notes.
The expansion adds two civilizations, the Vikings and the Scots. The Vikings earn lasting rewards through feats during a match, while the Scots use a building to shape their forces.
For the Vikings, those rewards come through Heroic Sagas, which grant lasting bonuses for accomplishments. The Scots’ Mustering Hall lets players steer their forces toward Highland or Lowland strengths.
The Crucible adds co-op while keeping solo play
Raiders of the North brings four new missions to The Crucible. The mode will also introduce two-player co-op for the first time, giving players the option to tackle its challenges with a partner. Solo play remains available, so the addition expands the choice of how to play.
The Crucible changes also include new Objectives, Boons, Perks and Mutators, alongside civilization-specific Talent Tracks. These additions expand both the mission selection and the options available within the mode.
Spectator HUDs become independent mods
A new Observer HUD mod category will let viewers subscribe to spectator interfaces and activate them independently of Game Mode mods. This applies to replays and live spectating, allowing the interface used to watch a match to be selected separately from a game mode mod.
Observer HUDs will load only for spectators. Creators will be able to publish these interfaces through a dedicated category in the Mod Editor, giving spectator tools their own publishing and subscription route.
Twelve new taunts themed around the Vikings and the Scots are also announced for all players on October 29. For anyone with unfinished saves or older matches to revisit, however, the practical deadline is the move to version 17.0 itself: the expansion’s release date should not be treated as a confirmed timetable for that compatibility cutoff.
See also our Age of Empires IV game page.
