If you control the sea lanes, you control the trade. If you control the trade, you control the world. It all sounds so easy. But first you need guns and ships and men to man them. It’s one thing to protect your coasts, but another to project power beyond them. Are you ready to make the ocean yours?

For those of you not up on your Latin, “mare nostrum” was the old Roman term for the Mediterranean – it means “our sea”, reflecting the Roman goal to dominate the sea to protect the food and riches that were rowed into its ports.

Mare Nostrum, therefore, takes its name from the major changes made to the naval game in Europa Universalis. For example, your coastal provinces produce sailors who will be needed to man and repair the warships and transports you have come to rely on. A new mission system for naval orders simplifies naval management, and the Barbary Coast nations of North Africa can now raid their neighbors for gold and sailor conscripts.

Mare Nostrum adds new depth to many parts of the classic empire builder, including new options for the merchant republics. These tiny financially motivated states can now form Trade Leagues, uniting their commercial might in a military and a mercantile alliance that makes everyone richer and stronger.

The expansion also introduces new mercenary options with greater control over your naval missions, the chance to rent your armies as condottieri, and the ability to share maps with your neighbors.

Other features of Mare Nostrum will include:

• Condottieri: Rent out your soldiers as mercenaries to give an underdog a fighting chance while filling your treasury
• Trade Leagues: For merchant republics, the power of the purse is amplified by creating economic and military alliances
• Share Maps: Instead of waiting for the world to come to you, ask your friends if they have discoveries they are willing to share.
• PLUS changes to diplomacy, subject nation management and much more, including the usual major patch that will be a FREE upgrade to all EU4 owners.

Mare Nostrum will be available soon from major digital retailers and the Paradox store.

And, even if you pass on buying Mare Nostrum, April 5 will also be the occasion for a substantial free update for all Europa Universalis players. This massive patch will add new features, which will enhance the player experience. The update will include: 

• Map Expansion: Greater detail to Ireland and sub-Saharan African, especially in the Congo and East Central Africa, and new “States and Territories” system
• Espionage Reworking: Your diplomats can now build spy networks in enemy nations, from where you can fabricate claims on enemy holdings or undermine them from within.
• Interface improvements: Better tooltips overall, and naval blockades are now more obvious on the map
• Naval Combat Changes: better morale system and increased chance to capture enemy vessels
• And even more changes to game balance, AI and modding triggers