The Silver Seas: quick answers
It costs $24.99, released 3 November 2026, requires the base game, runs on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the base game was free to try from 5 to 9 November 2026.
These are the questions that come up repeatedly about The Silver Seas, answered from the release material and the store page rather than from guesses.
Release and price
Is The Silver Seas out now?
Yes. It released on 3 November 2026 and has been on sale since. The launch build is 1.017.001.126767.
How much does it cost?
$24.99 in the US. Regional pricing varies by storefront, and console stores can differ slightly from Steam. Expansion Pass 4 costs $49.99 and includes it.
What platforms is it on?
PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. There is no Switch version, no PS4 version and no Xbox One version.
Do I need the base game?
Yes. This is an expansion, not a standalone. It will not launch without Age of Wonders 4.
Is there a physical edition?
No. It is digital-only on Steam, PlayStation Store and the Xbox store.
Content and systems
The content list?
The Mercantile culture with two subcultures, the Aqualon and Sharkkin forms, four tomes, the Bond of the Free Captains dwelling, Ocean Happenings, sea wonders and landmarks, the Spawning Shoal infestation, Pale Tidebloom, a realm template, a mount, a society trait, six achievements, three music tracks, four premade rulers and a pirate UI skin.
Is the Manta update part of the expansion?
No. Manta is a free update for every owner of Age of Wonders 4, released alongside the expansion. Trade routes, the water rework, Sword and Staff and Chilled are all in the free patch.
Does it add a new victory condition?
No. It adds a culture, content and map objects. The victory conditions are the base game's.
Can I play it without finishing the base game campaign?
Yes. It plugs into any realm, including the new Pirate Reefs template. There is no prerequisite campaign.
Are the new tomes locked to the Mercantile culture?
No. Tomes are researched by affinity, so any faction with access can take Piracy or Eternal Ice. The culture gives you a reason to combine them, not the only permission.
Buying and ownership
Was the base game free?
Yes, for a window: 10 AM PT on 5 November to 10 AM PT on 9 November 2026, on Steam and Xbox. That was the base game, not the expansion, and the window has closed.
Is Expansion Pass 4 worth it?
Only if you want the 2027 content. The pass costs $49.99 and includes this expansion plus Singer of Storms, Court of the Archfey and Forge of the Firstborn. If you only want the sea, buy this alone.
Why do the store pages list five items in the pass?
Because the pass lists itself alongside its four contents. Four of the five are things you get; one is the thing you bought. It is a Steam bundle quirk, not a hidden fifth expansion.
Does it work with an existing save?
Yes, with one caveat. A save created before 3 November loads under the new Manta rules, which means outposts that used to pay you automatically now need trade routes. Expect to spend the first ten minutes connecting them.
What if I only care about the free update?
Then you do not need to buy anything. The Manta update installs with the base game, and every rule on the Manta update page applies to you. The expansion adds content that uses those systems, not the systems themselves.
Language, multiplayer and length
Does it have Chinese language support?
The base game ships with Simplified Chinese among its supported languages, and the expansion uses the same localisation set. Your regional store page lists the exact languages for that build.
Is there crossplay?
Age of Wonders 4 supports cross-platform multiplayer, and the expansion does not change that. All players in a session need the same content for expansion-specific features to appear.
How long is a Mercantile campaign?
About the same as any other: 20 to 40 hours if you finish it, longer on a large map with slow settings. The culture's slower opening adds turns, not hours.
The release date and price page has the purchase details, and what the expansion adds is the longer version of the content list.
Two things people get wrong
"The expansion includes the Manta update." It does not, and the distinction matters if you are trying to work out what you are paying for. Manta is a patch: every owner of Age of Wonders 4 has trade routes, the water rework, Sword and Staff and Chilled, whether they bought The Silver Seas or not. The expansion adds the culture that specialises in those systems, plus the tomes and the sea content that use them.
"Mercantile is the only culture that can go on water." It is not. Any culture can found an outpost on a water province, and any culture can fight on water. Mercantile is the only one that can turn a water outpost into a city, which is a different and much narrower claim. If you want a naval game without the culture, you can have one: build outposts, run routes, and use Eternal Ice to walk across the water instead of sailing it.
Does it run on Steam Deck?
The base game is rated Playable on Steam Deck rather than Verified, which means it runs but may need a launcher step or manual controller configuration. The expansion adds content to the same client, so it inherits that rating.
Which subculture should I take first?
Barony, unless you already know the game well. Its outposts claim two extra provinces, its front line is sturdier, and its trade structures reward the straightforward loop of claim, connect, build. The Cartel is stronger in the hands of a player who knows which enemy cities are worth reaching, which is not information a first run gives you.
