Europa Universalis 5 could be getting army templates added to its military macro builder in its first free post-launch patch, according to Paradox Tinto Studio Manager Johan Andersson.
The highly anticipated grand strategy game stands out thanks to its wealth of systems and the complex interactions that drive its historical simulation. Shifting away from the boardgame-style mechanics of its predecessor naturally meant that some elements were prioritized over others, which is why EU5 army templates won’t be available at launch.
Europa Universalis 5 Army Templates Might Arrive in First Update
“I don’t think we cut any features from the release version,” Andersson noted during the EU5 pre-release stream when asked about the most difficult element to leave out of the game’s launch version.
He went on to explain that different quality of life changes were considered, including reworking parts of the UI or adding certain features, but the studio opted to wait until after Europa Universalis 5 was released, so it could give them the proper attention.
The team tried to rein in the number of new features it introduced during the final months leading up to the launch of the highly anticipated title based on the amount of work they’d require.
This likely happened in an attempt to ensure that as much polish as possible went into the impressive amount of systems and mechanics already present.
Nevertheless, Andersson did go on to note that army templates for the military macro builder, which he describes as a “huge feature” were considered but were “never high-priority,” which is why the team also decided to leave it for a free post-launch update.
“Probably the first free patch will be around that one. I mean, we’re not going to put it in a DLC, that’s evil,” Andersson explained.
Although this isn’t definite confirmation – depending on how smoothly EU5’s launch pans out, plans can change –, prospective conquerors can at least breathe a sigh of relief that they won’t have to wait until next year and pay for DLC to efficiently recruit entire armies.
Europa Universalis 5 launches today, November 4, 2025, on PC. If you’re eager to tinker with its various nations or worried you may find things a little too overwhelming, its console commands might help make the journey a tad smoother.
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