Paradox Celebrates International Women’s Day With DLC

An cool announcement from Paradox caught my attention. They are doing something unique to celebrate International Women's Day.

As they put it: ?[t]he pages of history books are filled with the stories of great men – but also great women: artists, authors, councilors, and rulers. Would Tenochtitlan have fallen without the language skills of Malinche guiding Cortez? Had the reign of Edward IV not been cut short by illness, would England have still ruled the seas, deprived of the strong hand of Elizabeth I?"

I certainly like the what if potential those questions provide, but the gamers who follow The Update will probably be even happier to learn that a free update for Europa Universalis IV is now available today that adds 100 great women of history to the game. Each character can be generated through event triggers (a weak regency, a colonial empire, certain ideas, etc.). Players will then have choices about how to use these talented women. Some may join your court as advisers, while other might be more suitable for riskier employment as rulers or leaders.

Thomas Johansson, the head of Paradox Development Studio, says that this DLC does something important for the company’s flagship title. "It's no surprise that the role of women in history isn't as well known as that of men,” Johansson says. “Europa Universalis, admittedly, hasn't done a lot to foreground their contributions. We thought that International Women's Day was the best time to do a little bit to help balance the scales and introduce our audience to some very interesting people."

The Women’s History DLC is free for all Europa Universalis IV players today and you can view the full changelog here. I for one applaud Paradox for not just showcasing the contributions of women to history, but also bringing important and empowering women to the attention of gamers everywhere.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. Check out his short fiction. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.