CK3: All Under Heaven Lands Strong — Big Map, New Rule Sets, Real Momentum

CK3’s Biggest Swing in Years Actually Connects

This caught my attention because Crusader Kings III hasn’t meaningfully touched East Asia since launch, and the last DLC, Coronations, was a wet blanket. Paradox needed a win after a rough run, and early signals say All Under Heaven is that win: 85% positive on Steam at launch and a noticeable performance focus, even with a huge map expansion. For a series that thrives on emergent chaos over centuries, that mix of scale and speed is everything.

Key Takeaways

• All Under Heaven expands the map by roughly 30-40% with Japan, China, and Southeast Asia plus thousands of new historical characters.
• Mandala governments and a designated “god-king” system push tributary webs over classic feudal sprawl-this genuinely changes how you play.
• Performance is better or only slightly worse for most players despite the scale; Linux users report zoom-related issues.
• Patch 1.18 “Crane” adds free features: Hegemonies, natural disasters, religious exiles, great projects, and gender law flexibility.

Breaking Down the Expansion (and What’s Actually New)

All Under Heaven finally puts Japan, China, and large chunks of Southeast Asia on the board. That alone would have been headline-worthy, but Paradox didn’t stop at new provinces. The new mandala government emphasizes tributaries and influence over raw land grabs, and the ‘god-king’ role lets you shape neighboring realms through faith-driven soft power. That’s a big philosophical shift from CK3’s feudal-default loop, and it’s what people are responding to.

Players seem to agree. “This is the standard that all Paradox DLC should follow,” one early review says. Another nails the vibe: “An addition that feels fundamentally different from the base-level gameplay.” It’s hard to disagree-this isn’t a wardrobe pack or a ceremonial mini-system. It’s a rule-set that rewires incentives from start to finish.

And the numbers are meaty: 2,721 new baronies, 41 cultures, 30 faiths, and over 20,000 historical figures. If you remember CK2’s Jade Dragon being mostly an off-map button panel for China, this is the opposite approach. China isn’t a distant pop-up-it’s a tangible, governable space with ministries and the Celestial Government to navigate. Japan brings its own path through the rise of the Shogunate, and Southeast Asia’s mandala states finally have mechanics that fit their history.

The Free “Crane” Patch is No Slouch

Even if you don’t buy the DLC, 1.18 “Crane” quietly supercharges CK3. Hegemonies add big, situational power plays for empires like India and Rome. Natural disasters—floods and earthquakes—add real regional texture instead of passive flavor text. Religious exiles keep minority faiths alive longer and let you invite them in, which is catnip for role-players who actually want stories to survive past the first reformer.

Great projects let multiple realms pool resources toward monumental builds—the Great Wall being the poster child—with rewards for investors. There’s also a “lenient gender equality” toggle that nudges male-only succession laws into male-preference, which Paradox admits exists “primarily so women can be governors in China.” It’s a small switch with big knock-on effects in court composition and character variety.

Why This Matters Now (and Why I’m Cautiously Optimistic)

Paradox needed to regain trust after a string of misfires, and the studio even admitted CK3’s QA was laser-focused on All Under Heaven while Coronations suffered—an ugly trade-off, but the results show. Performance is the big surprise: most reports say the game runs better or only a hair worse, which is wild given the map jump. That said, Linux players are seeing zoom-related issues; if you’re on Linux, maybe wait for a hotfix.

My question marks are the long tail: How well does the AI handle tributary webs versus classic vassal pyramids? Will late-game save bloat and pathfinding reappear once the community piles on mods? Does the god-king’s influence feel meaningful outside Asia, or is it a regional gimmick? The ingredients are strong, but balance passes will decide whether mandala play holds up after 100+ in-game years and several succession crises.

On value, $29.99/£24.99 is steep for a DLC—but this isn’t a flavor pack. If you like CK3 for the stories systems create, not just border gore, this feels like a foundational expansion. The Chapter IV bundle at $43.99/£37.15 softens the blow if you were already all-in, and the base game being 70% off through November 6 is a good onboarding window for new dynasties.

Looking Ahead

Watch for quick patches tackling the Linux zoom problem, early balance tweaks to mandala tributaries and hegemony edge cases, and economy checks around great project investments. Multiplayer stability with the expanded map will be a real test. Modders are about to have a field day—expect overhauls that lean hard into the Celestial Government and Shogunate politics, plus total conversion teams racing to port features.

Bottom line: After months of Ls, Paradox shipped something ambitious that mostly works on day one. That alone changes the CK3 mood—and maybe Paradox’s momentum.

TL;DR

All Under Heaven expands CK3 into East and Southeast Asia with systems that actually reshape the game. Early performance looks solid, Linux has a zoom hiccup, and the free Crane patch adds meaningful toys for everyone. Pricey, yes—but for once, the ambition matches the ask.