Copyright escapistmagazine
TaleWorlds has announced Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord’s naval expansion, “War Sails,” with a release date of November 26th. The news broke as the developer showcased the gameplay trailer, featuring 15 minutes of gameplay for the naval-focused expansion pack. The expansion introduces full naval warfare to the medieval strategy RPG, featuring 18 ships, a new Nordic faction, and expanded maps with rivers and open seas. The expansion releases simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG at 00:00 PST / 03:00 EST / 09:00 CET on November 26th. A major free update to the base game accompanies the paid expansion launch. If you’re interested, the expansion will launch globally at the same time, with the time zones as follows: The gameplay showcase demonstrates coastal warfare along Aserai shores, where Southern Empire and Aserai fleets clash using diverse ship classes, naval weapons, and tactics amid dynamic weather. Players can ram enemy vessels, board ships for close combat, or disable opponents by destroying oars and sails. The expansion adds the Northern Kingdom and the Norse-inspired Nord faction to Calradia. Players can explore jagged peaks, icy fjords, and newly accessible northern seas, rivers, and islands. Naval campaigns allow armies to strike deep into enemy territory via waterways, resupply forces, blockade towns, and sink enemy fleets. If you want that Viking-themed gameplay, it will certainly deliver on it. For those of you who played Viking Conquest in Warband, you’ll get the gist of what’s going on. Ship customization includes 18 vessel types with unique handling affected by wind and wave physics. Players can upgrade ships with siege engines, enhanced sails, and rams, plus acquire figureheads and develop naval-specific skills. So you can turn your character into a more admiral-like figure rather than an expert in cavalry, archers, or footmen, like in land campaigns. The new naval feature will also be a great addition to the Asarai, who are expert caravans, and the naval system will surely help the trade routes they are known for. Additional content includes Nordic companions, banners, hairstyles, tattoos, armor sets, and new weapons like spears, swords, and axes. A Custom Naval Battles mode lets players create instant fleet engagements on River, Coastal, or Open Sea maps without campaign progression. If you’re interested, you can grab the expansion for $24.99 USD / €24.99 or other regional pricing to be shown on Steam and consoles. It marks one of the biggest updates since the game left Early Access back in 2022.
