
Europa Universalis V differs from its previous version by starting much earlier in history ā in 1337, over a century before 1444. This puts you right in the middle of the late Middle Ages, just before two huge events: the Hundred Yearsā War between France and England, and the Black Death. The Black Death begins in 1346 and devastates Europe, Africa, and Asia, wiping out a massive portion of the worldās population. These events significantly impact your gameplay, presenting tough early challenges that are well-designed. The Black Death, in particular, is incredibly harsh, potentially undoing any economic progress and forcing you to rebuild your nationās economy from scratch.