Trade is an incredibly powerful political tool, and the new Victoria 3 DLC proves it. The Paradox grand strategy game continues to get better after a somewhat rocky launch, and the imminent release of the latest mechanics pack is the ideal time to check back in. With plenty of patches and expansions under its belt, the newest Victoria 3 DLC will permeate the entire game, if you’ve got a brain for business.
If you’ve been itching to get back to Victoria 3 and love the intricacies of trade, the upcoming ‘Charters of Commerce’ mechanics pack is for you. Market power will be massively expanded in the new grand strategy game DLC, giving trade will have even more depth and detail than before. That means new interactions with national companies and diplomatic deals. They say money makes the world go round for a reason, you know.
To start, you’ll have access to four new Company Charters that you can use to grant your nation’s businesses unique benefits. Trade Charters mean companies can traffic goods on the world market, Investment Charters mean they can establish regional headquarters and investments, Colony Charters mean they can govern colonial regions, and Industry Charters permit them to expand into more forms of production. So as you watch burgeoning businesses grow around you, make sure you offer up the right charter to help them expand even further.
You can even encourage many types of monopolies, if you want to exercise market control by being all that’s left. These can come in the form of state or private monopolies, so it’ll be up to you to decide which fits best (if at all). There are myriad more diplomatic agreements, meaning you can set limits on colonization or strongarm others into uneven trade deals that solely benefit you in the long run.
As it’s the 19th century, you can also start expanding into the realm of prestige goods. Champagne, tea, tobacco, sugar, and other high-value items mean you can grow not just your business, but the the cultural relevance of your nation – if you control the goods everybody wants, it stands to reason that you can start controlling the people themselves. Trade is one of the most powerful political tools in the world, and Victoria 3’s new mechanics pack gives you even more ways to dominate it.
Charters of Commerce is also part of Victoria 3’s Expansion Pass 2, which is filled with new packs. Throughout 2025 you can expect new immersion and music packs, and if you buy the entire pass you get the Trade Ships bonus pack as an instant unlock.
Victoria 3: Charters of Commerce launches on Tuesday June 17 and will cost you $19.99 / £16.75, or you can access it via the game’s Expansion Pass 2.
If you want even more like Victoria 3, make sure you check out our looks at the best 4X games and turn-based strategy games.
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