What changed in Crusader Kings III in 2025

A new activity for rulers to legitimize their reign through a coronation ceremony.

The biggest expansion ever for Crusader Kings III, expanding the map to include all of Asia.

Collaboration with modders to develop new content for the game.

Chapter IV will be retired, with contents folded into a collection bundle.

Focus on nomadic gameplay with new mechanics for migration and herd management.

Changes to make accolade successors automatic and improve clarity around attributes.

Efforts made to ensure that the expanded map does not negatively impact game performance.

Improved Combat AI, automated armies, and updated Interaction UI among other fixes.

Initial launch faced game-breaking bugs and balance issues; improvements planned for future updates.

Hegemonic Tributaries are now supported for all hegemonies.

New interaction for empire-tier Celestial rulers to execute and destroy a Noble Family.

Various terrain modifications and graphical performance enhancements.

Natural Disasters now have a higher catalyst value.

Performance boost for users with M1/M2/M3/M4 chips.

Numerous bug fixes implemented as suggested by community feedback.

New mechanics and unlocks for Ministers in China to expand their toolset.

Tiefutu Cavalry split into Black Armor Cavalry and Tiefutu with adjusted stats.

Independent rulers can withdraw gold from treasury with a cooldown, affecting legitimacy or influence.

Added story cycle for Tai culture migration into Southeast Asia.

Attributes for Administrative government type have been updated and rebalanced.

Multiple new special buildings added, including Baofeing Silver mine and Chihu Iron mines.

Three hit musical tracks from CK2 Jade Dragon have been brought over by popular demand.

Replaced with domain tax and capital development bonus.

Allows them to keep their pants on.

Fix for non-Japanese cultures.

Prevented Watch-houses from being built if you leveled up your aspect.

Makes them able to rival Song.

Somewhat nerfed their effectiveness.

Allows recruitment of Heavy Cavalry.

Fixed issue where the Grand Campaign great project would not be correctly removed if cancelled.

Women who serve as governors will be referred to by their correct titles.

Fixed edge case where a Councillor being moved would be fired from the new position.

Included new art assets for Southeast Asian characters in this update.

Fixed duplicated characters in 'A Resplendent Acclamation' due to new ceremonial lieges.

Fixed edge cases where Ministries could cause crashes.

Empire titles not part of a Hegemony can now de jure drift into a bordering Hegemony.

Fixed triggers for some cultural variations of the Mongol/Greatest of Khans special armies.

Winning a faction war to install a ruling regent no longer imprisons the ceremonial liege.

Removed the requirement to own the Royal Court to use the Iron Cavalry tradition.

Nomads AI migrating into a county will correctly evaluate the opponent.

AI believed their income was far lower than it was in reality.

Fixed bug where no one could host a local exam in independent celestial realms.

Customized Title names will once again be properly displayed in all relevant UIs.

Added more candles, carpets, pillars, and drapes.

House Heads can now command family members to take exams independently.

Adjustments to shorelines, lakes, and heightmap.

New decision representing Tai people's ambition.

No longer results in China gaining additional tributaries.

Includes a grab bag of bugfixes, crash fixes, and database improvements.

Improving character lighting based on community feedback.

Removed penalties and adjusted modifiers to improve gameplay in China.

Improved usability with new icons on House Coat-of-Arms.

Corrected titles for consorts of the Chinese Hegemon.

Adding blendshapes for long ears for realism.

Adding new headwear pieces and clothing.

New decision for players to establish a Ryukyuan Empire.

Addressed key issues such as crashes.

Enhancements to gameplay as a Minister in upcoming updates.

Fixed some Korean heritages that were unable to use the 'Unite the Husamgeuk' decision.

Made the Dynastic Cycle ticking catalyst for holding less than 50% of China stronger.

The Byzantine emperor will no longer stand holding a Hu in budget events.

Fixed Shi Miyuan having the wrong gender.

Resolved a crash that occurred on the conclusion screen of an activity if kept open for a long time.

Resolved a game over caused by combining the Game Rule 'Player Administrative Realms - Always' with playing the Japanese Ten'no.

Counties involved in an Escalated Peasant Faction will no longer immediately form another faction.

Made AI rulers less likely to use Hegemonic Consolidation CB if not involved in the Dynastic Cycle.

Added a catalyst for the Dynastic Cycle to force Emperors holding less than 30% of de-jure Hegemony into the Division Era.

Made default candidates for Meritocratic Regent Succession the same as for Japanese Regency succession.

Addressed inappropriate fallbacks for Korean rulers' flavorization.

Non-Mandala rulers can now upgrade Temple Citadel Holdings.

Added modifiers to prevent Counties from flipping between Escalated and Populist factions.

Balanced Duke-tier income down in bureaucratic governments and Kingdom-tier income up.

Resolved a rare startup crash related to story cycles.

Fixed issues with the Song dynasty ruler in 1178 and various genealogical irregularities in the Zhao dynasty's ancestry.

Fixed a crash that could happen when opening both catalyst and participation windows of different sub-regions in the Silk Road situation window.

Manage the Imperial Treasury to fund Great Projects and expand influence.

Thrive along the Silk Road, profiting from the wealth and innovations of China.

Perform Tributary Missions to increase favor with subjects as a Tributary ruler.

Take control of a Japanese house and rise to power as a Shogun or Kampaku regent.

Navigate a living system of stability and chaos in China, exploiting instability to rise to power.

Japanese is introduced as a supported language for Crusader Kings III.

Rule as a Devaraja with the Mandala Government, uniting tributaries into temple-centered empires.

Use alliances, intrigue, and ritual to strengthen your position in Japan.

Immerse in Asia's cultural, artistic, and historical nuances with new throne rooms, events, and traditions.

The largest expansion for Crusader Kings III introduces new settings in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

Ascend to the highest tier of power with the new Hegemony title in the Chinese region.

New starting bookmarks bring fresh perspectives and challenges in the game.

Earn Merit through deeds or Imperial Examinations to gain favor and influence in China.

Enhancements to skin textures, lighting, shading, and render settings for all characters in the game.

Introduction of new clothing and headgear sets inspired by the Khmer Empire, emphasizing Angkorian-era style.

Introduction of 84 new character assets inspired by Tang and Song Dynasties, including hairstyles, clothing, beards, legwear, headgear, armor sets, and map units.

Creation of 47 new character assets inspired by the Japanese Heian Period, including hairstyles, clothing, beards, legwear, headgear, armor sets, and map units.

A new set of Innovations that can be spread to other Cultures, with specific Innovations active in each Region.

Innovations now have associated skills, allowing faster discovery based on the player's Diplomacy skill.

Each Region has a Hub Special Building that provides income and benefits, and can be upgraded for additional advantages.

A new feature representing the movement of ideas and interconnectedness of the East and West, split into six Regions with unique Phases.

Regions fluctuate between Exceptional Bounty, Steady Trading, and Hardship, affecting benefits for Participants.

The Innovations panel has been improved for better user experience, showing current Fascination, Spread target, and Innovation status.

Players can now discover Innovations from future Eras, albeit at a slower rate until the Culture enters that Era.

Actions and events can trigger Catalysts that push the Situation towards a new active Phase, applied separately to each Region.

Non-Christian characters will no longer hold a very Christian scepter.

Added a powerful new event allowing hosts to break up a neighboring confederation or earn a new vassal or tributary.

Now is fully mechanically resolved upon completion.

Reduced the frequency of 'The Witness' event in coronations.

HRE Emperor Heinrich IV no longer starts as crowned in 1066 bookmark.

Added missing localization for modifiers.

Can only trigger if detractors have higher military strength or there is a faction targeting the host.

Now properly accounts for unlanded characters.

Corrected the missing space in the tooltip.

Coronation rewards from 'Embrace Supporters' intent now target only supporters.

Now has an updated building requirement in the decision window.

Fixed the display of herd gain from coronations.

Emperors of a faith with ‘No Anointment’ doctrine are set as Crowned, not Anointed.

Fixed the reward giveaway for the event.

Replaced requirements with piety/prestige costs.

All activities no longer block artifact interactions.

The decision now properly requires 3+ claimants installed via wars.

Character Memories about Coronations are now more reliable.

Fixed descriptions that made no sense for non-vassal characters.

Fixed missing text for the modifier.

Fixed the character selection for promising buildings.

The check for de jure duchy existence in the decision requirements is now visible.

Zealous characters are now easier to convert to witchcraft if their faith accepts it.

Fixed edge cases in dynamic event text for the event.

Fixed the reward text for the oath.

Flipped AI legend logic.

Crown laws are properly reset for the heir when a ruler is deposed.

Fixed broken loc in player notifications.

Fixed decision display issues and wrong law displayed in the selection tooltip.

Fixed the issue preventing the upgrade from progressing past level 2.

All active oaths are removed upon losing the last Kingdom title.

The Sayyid trait will no longer spawn new legend seeds if a holy legend seed already exists.

Increased the cost to its intended level.

Fixed the description of the 'Anointed' nickname.

Now correctly assigns the proper duchies to the new kingdom's de jure.

Will not try to appoint a brewmaster if the court position is unavailable.

Fixed a culture scoping issue in the event.

Now has the incestuous trait as a virtue.

Will no longer display 'Consolidate the None' upon completing the Reconquer Oath.

Building Oaths now better display the requirements for buildings in held baronies.

Fixed the primogeniture law being reset prematurely.

Fixed instances of the coronation host mentioning a guest's realm while swearing an oath.

Added economic archetype checks in the oaths.

Ensured AI emperors get anointed.

Fixed misleading tooltips about the numerical requirements for various Oaths.

Will no longer try to fetch a missing chaplain for Nomads.

Prevented rulers from giving away their coronation artifacts in the event.

Forbid Pope and other Heads of Faith from bringing any demands.

Will not trigger more than once during a coronation.

Fixed the reward hooks being given backwards.

Fixed requirement for children having a claim on your primary title.

Fixed empty strings and broken scopes in the event.

Fixed errors showing during the coronation from the guest's point of view.

Requirement now fully checks for the title for which the coronation was held.

One pilgrimage is no longer counted as multiple.

Added a cooldown check for activities to manage availability and inform players on hover.

Fixed issue where players received all of a character's money instead of a fixed amount during mass ransoming.

Crowns or regalia can be provided through multiple avenues including game start and AI inspirations.

Introduced a new animation for the crowning process during coronations.

Added non-nomad music tracks to the nomadic music list to reduce repetition.

Development bonus now only applies if the Estate is in the realm capital.

New doctrine added to faiths regarding Anointment requirements for kings and emperors.

Two types of coronations introduced: Regular Coronation and Anointment by the Head of Faith.

Players can now legitimize their rule through grand coronations that impress vassals and neighboring rulers.

New widget displaying Major Supporters and Major Detractors during coronation activities.

Players can take an oath after their coronation, declaring objectives for their rule with unique rewards.

Corrected character listing in travel danger events and resolved errors in hunt triggers.

Fixed bug where players couldn't close the travel window during ongoing travel.

Introducing the Coronations Event Pack, allowing players to hold grand coronation ceremonies.

Implemented an astrological system based on the Chinese Zodiac, affecting character traits and relationships.

Introduced a new system for faith compatibility and syncretism, allowing the creation of syncretic faiths and an Eminent Heathen court position.

Developed a visual representation for sprawling cities on the map to enhance immersion.

A new mechanic that shrouds the map in mystery, limiting information about other realms and introducing a Diplomatic Envoy court position.

A new gameplay feature that introduces natural disasters affecting realms, particularly in China.

Players will experience a loss of Legitimacy during the Impact phase of a natural disaster.

Players can undertake recovery projects to restore their realm after a disaster, affecting Legitimacy and resources.

Natural disasters will be treated as a type of Situation with phases affecting gameplay.

Natural disasters will occur rarely, with frequency influenced by the terrain and historical context of the region.

Natural disasters will be represented on the map with pins and terrain shaders to indicate affected areas.

Players can choose Oaths during Coronations to set long-term goals for their rulers, affecting legitimacy and prestige.

The event screen has been updated to show more Oath options at once, enhancing player decision-making.

Guests at Coronations can select from various Intents that influence their relationship with the host and the event's outcome.

A new Coronation activity allows players to experience the coronation process of their rulers, impacting their legitimacy and vassal opinions.

Players can choose different Intents for their Coronation, affecting the outcome and relationships with vassals.

Introduced a new regency type called Grand Secretariat tied to Celestial Government.

Added new outfits and headgear inspired by the Khmer Empire for Southeast Asian characters.

Renamed Imperial Examinations to Civil Service Examinations, now available for all Merit-utilizing governments.

New law allows characters to declare wars on vassals without intervention from the top liege for 3 years.

Introduced Debates as a new activity for seizing leadership within movements.

Updated the Administrative Window UI for better management of realms and families.

Introduced a new Treasury Budgeting system with Salary, Ministry, and Military Budgets.

Players can now signal favored Movements and Eras, impacting gameplay dynamics.

Implemented a new Bartering mechanic for Wanua characters to exchange goods for loot.

Added an overview tab for managing Elder-Disciple relationships and interactions.

Coronations are a new Activity type available to Kings and Emperors, featuring new mechanics and gameplay elements.

Magnificence measures the success of a Coronation based on setup, host actions, and attendee interactions.

A new Realm Law determines whether a ruler is Crowned or Uncrowned, affecting Opinion and Legitimacy.

Players can select an Oath during Coronations, setting objectives for their rule and enhancing gameplay.

A grander Coronation ceremony available to emperor-tier rulers, featuring additional bonuses and requirements.

Introducing the Coronation Activity, a new event pack focused on the ceremonial crowning of kings and emperors.

The Coronation Activity includes various Intents for hosts and attendees, impacting Legitimacy, Opinion, and Prestige.

Adoption of Gaea software for realistic heightmaps and material masks, improving efficiency and visual quality.

A new county-tier map for China has been developed, showcasing administrative jurisdictions.

The entire map is receiving a facelift with new assets and improved visual elements, enhancing the overall aesthetic.

Significant updates to the de jure structure of China, with regional names replacing ancient dynasty-inspired names.

A new illustrated paper map inspired by Asian folklore will be used by default for most East Asian cultures.

The map will now encompass all of Asia, marking the most ambitious expansion yet.

Map text has a softer appearance, political map texture improved, and terrain lighting has been reworked for better visibility.

Mandalas can achieve Divine, Demigod, and Godlike levels of devotion, impacting gameplay.

Allows rulers to set focuses for their subjects, impacting gameplay direction.

New holding type for Mandala rulers, serving as the main location for the Capital Temple Complex.

Players can choose from four aspects that influence gameplay strategies.

Mandalas begin with less power but can grow significantly over time.

A scheme allowing Mandala rulers to attempt to coerce other rulers into becoming tributaries.

Mandalas rely on tributaries rather than direct vassalization, affecting realm dynamics.

A sea-based tribal government type available in Southeast Asia.

Collaborative efforts to fund large projects, including the Capital Temple Complex.

New government type focusing on divine rulership and faith-based mechanics.

Each House in Japan now has an Aspiration that grants bonuses and influences political goals.

A non-administrative government type that allows for estate-style domiciles and unique gameplay mechanics.

Japan's representation on the map has been updated to Murasaki purple for visual distinction.

The emperor is now a playable character with unique mechanics and the potential to influence the game significantly.

A new government type that represents the transition in Japanese governance during the historical period.

Sōryō rulers can now access a unique Men-at-Arms type, enhancing their military capabilities.

A unique law category for the top liege of Japan that allows for significant gameplay changes.

A new government type inspired by Japanese legal frameworks, featuring unique mechanics and historical context.

A new feature allowing Houses to form political groups for mutual defense and cooperation.

A new system that tracks relations between Houses, affecting gameplay and interactions.

Players can vie for various ministerial roles such as Minister of Revenue, War, and Justice.

A new system for securing government office through merit and examinations.

A new government type unique to China, focusing on a merit-based bureaucracy.

New administrative types for provinces, including Civilian and Military categories.

Ministers can initiate collaborative projects that characters can contribute to.

New ruling dynasties can take names from historical inspirations and evolve over time.

Nomadic rulers can now utilize the 'Found a New Empire' decision.

Efforts to depict historical administrative units accurately while balancing game mechanics.

Experimental changes to the terrain map to enhance visual representation.

Localization for the new game difficulty rules introduced in 1.16.2.1 has been added.

Default faith icon for new custom faiths now reflects the icon of the faith being branched from, instead of defaulting to the catholic cross.

New kingdom tier based on Song dynasty administrative units called circuits.

Resolved an issue where Obedience was still a factor in faction commitment for settled Nomads.

The new highest tier of title available in the game, unique to the map at each start date.

The interaction now considers Nomadic Turkic tribes.

The hegemony consists of five empires: Qin, Liang, Shu, Wu, and Yue, which can be formed during gameplay.

Made it possible to set HERD_GAIN_FROM_COUNTY_MULTIPLIER to 0.

Addressed an issue that could prevent players from continuing their game after closing the succession window.

Resolved an issue where players could be stuck in traveling mode after finishing the contract.

New mechanics for tracking relationships between houses and forming military alliances.

Introduction of the All Under Heaven DLC focusing on East Asia in the middle ages.

New relationship mechanics for independent rulers to engage with the Chinese Empire.

A new government type based on meritocracy, allowing for unique administrative gameplay.

New types of vassals reflecting the fragmented power structure in Japan.

Removal of artificial barriers to the map, now including regions like Burma and Tibet.

New gameplay mechanic reflecting the historical cycles of stability and chaos in Chinese dynasties.

New title tier for China, allowing for the creation of super-empires under specific conditions.

Resolved an issue causing crashes for some users in 1.16.2.1

Includes easier MaA management, improved stress management, and faster levy reinforcement.

The Decision view has been optimized to prevent game slowdowns.

Introduces new difficulty levels that can be selected when starting a new campaign.

Increased penalties for unfair Vassal Contract changes and adjustments to contract proposals.

High and Extortionate tax obligations are valued higher; AI desires higher taxes over higher levy contributions.

Significantly boosts AI capabilities and applies greater penalties to players.

Resolved issues related to outdated Domicile cache.

Includes fixes for the siege window, hostage window, and character selection list.

Adventurers now correctly receive contracts in the Steppe.

New difficulty modes to enhance challenge for players.

Updates aimed at addressing player concerns regarding game balance.

Hotfixes implemented to reduce crash rates following the release of Khans of the Steppe.

No longer incorrectly named Khazaria.

Diversifies background art.

No longer resets when a subject contract gets modified.

Unless both are rulers or gender law is Equal.

Targets overlords of neighbors connected by land.

Also gives Almos Arpad the First King of the Confederation modifier.

From pastoralists and communal ethos from 2 to 0.35.

Due to a faulty check on filled council positions.

Allows players to join existing confederations on their own initiative.

Members of your Confederation will be invited to activities.

Provides county fertility bonuses in Forest and Taiga terrain.

Enhancements for better usability.

Replaces the GoK house modifier.

New important action for players.

Added information about the change of Obedience acceptance.

Gives smaller immediate rewards, but recurring bonuses over the next few years.

New traditions include Pastoralists, Horse Breeders, and Recognition of Talent.

Chance increased from 1/4 to 3/4 for major consequences.

Reinforcement efficiency changed from 4 to 1.5.

Success chance reduced from 40 to 30.

Reinforcement efficiency changed from 0.75 to 0.4.

Addresses crashes that could occur when saves from older versions were present in the save game folder.

Fixes the issue where players could get pulled into an AI nerge event resulting in them being maimed.

Addresses stutters occurring on paused lategame saves with large realms.

Introduction of a new feast and hunt activity types specific to Mongols.

New atmospheric sounds and realistic animal noises for Mongol-themed events.

Domicile art inspired by Asian styles for nomadic characters.

New backgrounds for various events including nomadic tents and eastern villages.

Nomadic characters and military units now have horse animations.

Seasonal changes and unique holding graphics for nomadic territories.

Unique HUD style for nomadic characters reflecting Mongolian art.

Expanded variety of clothing and headgear for Mongol characters.

A dynamic loading screen depicting a band of warriors against a stormy sky.

Six new tracks composed to reflect Mongolian culture and landscapes.

New unique men-at-arms reflecting various steppe cultures.

A grand yurt throne room with variations based on grandeur level.

New system allowing independent rulers to establish tributary relationships with suzerains, replacing previous vassal contracts with subject contracts.

New county fertility value calculated for counties involved in migration situations or with specific government rules.

Dynamic system for region-based gameplay, allowing for various socio-political and environmental interactions.

New gameplay feature allowing independent rulers to form confederations for mutual defense.

New mechanics for nomadic migration integrated with the Situation system, affecting player and AI behavior.

New obedience mechanic for characters based on their government type and liege relationships.

Introduction of a new domicile type, nomadic camp, and changes to domicile ownership and inheritance.

The Release and QA teams are actively investigating the UI issue and working on a new update.

The game has been reverted to the previous version 1.15.0 to address a severe user interface issue introduced in Update 1.15.0.1.

A new update 1.15.0.2 will be deployed once it has been certified.

The team will review testing procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.

New yurt buildings provide various bonuses and serve as the central point for nomadic realms.

Several unique court positions for nomadic rulers have been added, each with specific tasks.

A new war mechanic that triggers when a player attempts to become the Greatest of Khans, involving multiple rulers opposing them.

Nomads can now take a decision to become the Greatest of All Khans if they reach Dominance level 5.

Nomadic rulers now have a unique Kurultai council setup instead of the regular council.

Players can now strive to become the Greatest of Khans, a title that prevents others from achieving it.

Introduced a new Obedience mechanic that affects vassal behavior and succession.

Nomads can now migrate to target duchies or kingdoms based on their Dominance level.

New succession law for nomads that involves approval from Kurultai members.

Seasons now affect Fertility and character behavior, introducing various modifiers.

Nomads now have a Dominance level that affects their power and gameplay mechanics.

New court position to predict upcoming seasons and manage fertility.

Fertility Equilibrium predicts how fertile a county will become over time, influenced by various factors.

New contracts introduced to address County Control and improve Fertility growth after migration.

New interface for managing court roles with added tasks and vacancy management options.

Introducing a new Nomadic Government and systems inspired by the nomadic peoples of the Eurasian Steppe.

Life in the steppe is affected by changing climate and weather patterns, impacting resource availability.

New activity type allowing players to coordinate coronation ceremonies for legitimacy.

AI will gather armies before attacking, leading to more coordinated Great Holy War offensives.

A new title tier above an empire to represent the division of power within large realms.

Expanding the game map across all of Asia with new gameplay and unique governments.

Purchasing the Chapter IV pass grants immediate access to a cosmetic pack with culture-specific crowns.

A centralized treasury system for the Chinese Emperor to manage resources.

Players will guide nomadic peoples across the steppe, adapting to the land's vitality and maintaining herds.

A broad set of changes to existing content, available for free to all owners.

Players can increase their Dominance to claim the title of Genghis Khan.

AI can now handle martial affairs and coordinate allied armies more effectively.

Reflects historical patterns of stability and chaos for imperial dynasties.

A new system representing horses and cattle, used for diplomatic, martial, and economic actions.

Introduced an opt-in feature for AI to control armies during trivial wars.

Addressed over 200 bugs as part of the Realm Maintenance.

Revamped character interaction menu for better usability and intuitive navigation.

Enhanced warfare AI behavior to reduce indecisiveness and improve strategic actions.

Added icons and descriptions to clarify AI ally actions during wars.

Reworked Court Positions to make them more engaging with new effects, tasks, and improved UI.

A new seasonal system affecting Fertility and the mood of Nomadic rulers.

New unplayable government type that populates the map with shepherds replenishing Fertility.

A binary state affecting loyalty and actions of subjects towards their overlord.

New type of subject relationship allowing for unique tribute dynamics.

Lower-tier Nomadic rulers can band together for mutual defense against larger enemies.

A new measurement of power for Nomadic rulers that affects vassal and domain limits.

The character with the largest Herd can become the Greatest of Khans, influencing gameplay.

A unique currency for Nomads that plays a significant role in interactions and governance.

Nomads can migrate to new lands based on Fertility and Dominance levels.

Nomads convert a percentage of their Herd into Horde Riders, a new type of Men-at-Arms.

A new government type inspired by the rulers of the Eurasian Steppe, focusing on herd, might, and land.

New domicile type for Nomads that can be upgraded and carries with them during migration.