Paradox has revealed today Europa Universalis 4, which is slated for release on the PC in the third quarter of 2013.
The new game, like its predecessors, will put you in full control of a nation to guide its path throughout history with the goal of becoming a dominant global empire. The game is said to offer unprecedented freedom in how you choose to rule your nation and is unparalleled in its depth of historical accuracy.
In other words, it's a Paradox game, and it's going to be very, very detailed.
According to the developers, you will be able to decide on your own form of government, the structure of your society, trade politics, and more.
These decisions will be impacted by the sovereign—the man you have in charge of running the country. If you have a warrior King, then going to war might be in your interests.
Like previous Paradox games, Europa Universalis 4 will be laden with thousands of historical personalities as well as events to guide you, with what the developer calls a "unique flavor" depending on the country you play.
Players can experience over 300 years of gameplay in a topographic map in full 3D, leading one of the game's 250+ countries which existed during the time of the game's expansive time span.
Europa Universalis 4 also sees an overhaul of its trade system, which adds a new dimension to gameplay, allowing players to take charge of one of the great trade empires of the period or shoehorn an existing country into a powerful trade nation.
Likewise, diplomacy has also been heavily overhauled, allowing players to form coalitions, threaten other nations, and even support rebel armies within rival nations. The game now introduces unilateral options—a country may dislike you, but you can be neutral towards them.
Players can engage in cooperative as well as competitive multiplayer modes. In cooperative, up to 32 players can take charge of a single nation.
Finally, Paradox plans to provide heavy support for modders to create their own history and customize their games, so you can change the world to fit your own imagination.
