Hearts of Iron IV: The Giant Wakes does not have an exact release date yet, but its Steam page lists a window of Q1 2027, meaning January to March 2027. Paradox Interactive announced it on November 12, 2026, as the headline of Expansion Pass 3, and the pass is the only way to buy it right now.
Below is everything Paradox has said about the timing, what comes out before it, how to get it, and what the expansion changes for the United States and the rest of the Americas.
The Release Window
The Steam page for The Giant Wakes lists its release date as “Q1 2027.” Paradox’s Expansion Pass 3 announcement did not give a date for it, so treat Q1 2027 as a target that can still move, not a promise.
That is later than usual for a big Hearts of Iron IV expansion. Recent ones came out in November: Götterdämmerung on November 14, 2024, and No Compromise, No Surrender on November 20, 2025. Paradox explained the change in its September 4 Studio Gold update: “we have decided to delay our next major expansion,” because the team wanted “to take extra time to really get it to a great quality.”
What Comes Out Before It
Expansion Pass 3 has four pieces, released over time. Here is where each one stands on Steam:
| Content | Type | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Songs of Liberty | Music | Out now, unlocks when you buy the pass |
| To The Bitter End | Focus Pack (Romania) | November 19, 2026 |
| The Giant Wakes | Expansion (United States and the Americas) | Q1 2027 |
| The Price of Peace | Theater Pack | Q2 2027 |
To The Bitter End, the Romania pack, is the next release and sells on its own for $5.99, £4.99 or €5.99. Our Expansion Pass 3 story covers what is in each pack.
When We Will Know More
Watch for dev diaries. In the same September update, Paradox said it would “aim to start with Dev Diaries earlier than previous years, most likely after Romania releases.” With To The Bitter End due on November 19, that points to The Giant Wakes’ dev diaries starting from late November, and they are the most likely place for an exact date to appear.
Some of the systems have already been previewed in Paradox’s Dev Corner posts on Steam, including the Great Depression, industrial might and military production, airborne warfare and Canada.
How to Get The Giant Wakes
Right now, the only way to buy it is through Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass 3, which costs $43.99, £36.99 or €43.99. The Giant Wakes’ own Steam page has no standalone price yet, and its buy button sells the pass. Paradox has not said what the expansion will cost on its own.
The pass makes sense if you want everything in it: you get Songs of Liberty now, Romania on November 19, The Giant Wakes when it releases and The Price of Peace after that. If you only care about the American rework, there is no rush, since nothing in the pass unlocks it early. You need the base game, Hearts of Iron IV, to play any of it. While you wait, Paradox’s other grand strategy games have fresh content too: see our coverage of Europa Universalis V’s Across the Pillars and our Crusader Kings 3 guides.
What The Giant Wakes Adds
Paradox calls it a “long awaited reworking and updating of the United States and other American nations.” The Steam page lists:
United States – A new Great Depression content system to recover from. – A new model for American Congressional politics. – New alternate history paths for Communist and Fascist America. – New foreign policy options, including using the Monroe Doctrine to influence Central and South American nations.
Canada – Expanded alternate history paths, including more developed Communist and Fascist paths. – Choices about Canada’s ties to the United Kingdom and the United States. – The Conscription Crisis and the rise of populist parties.
Central America and the Caribbean – Content for each affected nation, with the choice of aligning with the United States or charting your own course. – Uniting Central America by diplomatic agreement or conquest.
Changes for everyone – Industrial Overhaul: specialized industrial parks and design companies tied to industrial output. – Army Professionalism: a new way to measure your forces’ readiness, affected by long deployments and combat experience. – Reworked Airborne Combat: glider infantry and air bridges for supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Hearts of Iron 4: The Giant Wakes come out? There is no exact date. Steam lists it for Q1 2027, which means January to March 2027.
Can I buy The Giant Wakes on its own? Not yet. It is only sold as part of Expansion Pass 3 ($43.99), and Paradox has not announced a standalone price.
Was The Giant Wakes delayed? Paradox said in September 2026 that it had decided to delay its next major expansion to take extra time on quality, which is why it is not arriving in November like recent expansions.
What comes out first in Expansion Pass 3? Songs of Liberty unlocks when you buy the pass, and the Romania Focus Pack, To The Bitter End, follows on November 19, 2026.
What is in The Giant Wakes? A rework of the United States, Canada, and Central American and Caribbean nations, plus an industrial overhaul, Army Professionalism and reworked airborne combat.