The difference between life and death, victory and defeat, glory and misery, is as thin as your shadow, as sharp as your blade, as swift as your horse.The world is crumbling, and the spoils of its fall are at hand for men and women with wits, ambition and battle skills — people such as you. Your destiny is yours to decide. 

Will you find glory and write your name in the history of Calradia?

Set 200 years before the events of Warband, in Bannerlord we find the Calradic Empire on the brink of collapse. Assaulted on several fronts by external enemies, and consumed by civil war, the empire that once dominated the continent is on the brink of collapse -- the new order that emerges from its ashes may depend on your actions and decisions! 

Set during the collapse of a once mighty empire, players are challenged to establish their clan and climb their way to the upper echelons of a medieval society through warfare, trade, and political dealings. Gather troops, raise an army, and command and fight alongside them in epic, large scale, real-time battles and sieges. 

TaleWorlds Entertainment has released a new gameplay video for the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - War Sails expansion, which is coming PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on November 26, 2025 for $24.99 / €24.99.

The new video showcases some of the most spectacular new mechanics introduced in War Sails, in a thrilling night-time river battle between the Nords - a fierce new faction introduced in the expansion - and the Khuzaits. Pitched in a deadly battle in the dark of night, the two factions battle not only each other, but the fury of the elements, in the midst of a violent thunderstorm. Ships ignite under barrages of blazing fire arrows, sails burn, and vessels sink beneath storm waves for the first time in the series’ history - offering just a glimpse of the intense naval battles awaiting players in War Sails.

This gameplay footage features a river battle between Khuzait and Nords. The player POV controls the Khuzait, with an army consisting of 3 Qalquk and 1 Dromakion (heavy ships), 3 Sambuk (medium), and 1 Eastern Galley (light), equipped with fire pots as ballista in heavy ships. The Nords’ army, playing as the attackers, consists of 6 Drakkar (Heavy), 1 Longship (Medium), and 1 Light Longship (Light). It’s a night-time battle, with both sides equipped with lanterns on their ships. Burning sails and ships are shown in the video.

The War Sails expansion brings new strategic depth to the vast world of Calradia, introducing naval warfare for the first time. It features a Viking-inspired faction—legendary seafarers and fierce close-quarters fighters—alongside new coastal regions to explore. Players can command fleets, engage in ship battles, board enemy vessels, and enforce blockades, reshaping warfare across both land and sea.

What long-time fans of the franchise may appreciate most in War Sails is how Naval systems and the Nord faction integrate into Bannerlord’s world, reshaping trade, warfare, and diplomacy. The ability to explore by sea, conduct naval blockades, and engage in ship-based combat will influence battle strategies across all of Calradia, not just in the new territories - generals will need to adapt their tactics accordingly!

Features of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - War Sails: 

• MEET THE NORDS: Chart a course to the Northern Kingdom, home of the fearless Nords. Trade, recruit, or fight in a land of jagged peaks and icy fjords. Will you join the North or take their riches? 
• MASTER NAVAL WARFARE: War Sails brings naval warfare inspired by medieval battles. Master wind and water physics, board or ram ships, cripple foes by shattering oars, sinking hulls, or tearing sails. 
• EXPLORE AN EXPANDED MAP: Calradia expands for naval warfare with a northern sea, islands, rivers, and open waters. Sail past barriers, resupply, and battle foes on land and sea. 
• BUILD YOUR FLEET: Choose from 18 ships, each with unique handling shaped by wind and waves. Upgrade with siege engines, sails, and rams. Acquire vessels, upgrade ports, or win ships and figureheads. 
• EMBARK ON A NAVAL CAMPAIGN: Sail rivers and seas to strike deep into enemy land. Keep armies supplied, sink foes, and blockade towns. But beware—storms and attrition can undo even the best-laid plans. 
• EXPAND YOUR ARSENAL: Gather new companions, Nordic banners, hairstyles, tattoos and armour. Develop your naval skills, craft unique weapons and wield new spears, swords, and axes to rule land and sea. 
• A LIVING, EVOLVING WORLD: Naval systems and Nord faction integrate into Bannerlord’s world, reshaping trade, warfare, and diplomacy.
• CUSTOM NAVAL BATTLES: Create and command your own fleet battles. Choose hero, faction, ships, and crew, then set wind, season, and time of day on River, Coastal, or Open Sea maps. No campaign needed.

Alongside the War Sails launch, TaleWorlds Entertainment has confirmed the release of a free update: Patch v1.3. Future updates will introduce new gameplay mechanics like stealth and disguise systems, random events, a Parley feature, and combat improvements.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is available for toPS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam/Epic Games Store/GOG.com).