Next week, Paradox Interactive, the renowned developer behind Stellaris and Crusader Kings 3, is gearing up to unveil a highly anticipated new project. With a history spanning 25 years of creating immersive strategy games that transport players from the ancient Roman Empire to the vast expanse of space, Paradox is set to reveal what they've been hinting at as their "next major title in the genre."
This mysterious new game, known only by its codename "Caesar," has been the subject of much discussion on the studio's forums through a series of "Tinto Talks" developer diaries. These discussions have welcomed extensive community feedback on various aspects including feature ideas, key game systems, and historical research. Now, Paradox is ready to lift the veil on Project Caesar, bringing it to a global audience.
The most recent Tinto Talks, named after the Barcelona-based Studio Tinto developing the game, delved into the mechanics surrounding Protestant religions and the climactic "War of Religions," which involves all Western Christian confessions. This was all part of their "entirely super-top-secret game with the codename Project Caesar." Additionally, the upcoming announcement video is slated to premiere on the official Europa Universalis YouTube channel, fueling speculation that this could be a new installment in that beloved series.
Fan theories abound, with many believing the game to be closely related to the Europa Universalis franchise. "Dev Diaries haven't called it EU5 but everything we have been teased thus far heavily implies it," one player noted on Reddit. Another chimed in, pointing out the significance of the video's channel, "There might've been clues along the way huh." The project has been an "open secret" for over a year, thanks to the detailed threads on Paradox forums.
To uncover the truth behind the rumors and get the first glimpse of what's next, fans should mark their calendars for Paradox's video premiere at 9am PDT (12pm EDT, 5pm UK time) on May 8, 2025. This event promises to usher in "a new era for grand strategy."
Reflecting on the legacy, IGN's review of the last Europa Universalis game, Europa Universalis IV, awarded it an impressive 8.9/10, praising it for "bringing accessibility and flexibility to the strategy series without compromising its complexity."
