Europa Universalis 5's latest patch notes took up 72 pages on a Google Doc so I think it might be a big one

Plus, the game's first DLC is out now too

The latest patch for Europa Universalis 5 dropped earlier this week. Numbered 1.2 and titled Echinades, it is the game's "biggest update yet," as true a sounding statement as can be given that the patch notes come out to apparently 72 pages in a Google Doc. I don't have time to read all of that! So I won't, but I will tell you about the highlights kindly outlined by Paradox Tinto that feature in this update.

For this update, the Balkans have seen some major additions. There are more than 300 new advances and 150 new Dynamic Historical Events, alongside "extensive new content for Greece and the Balkans, a couple new formables, reforms, and privileges," according to this Steam blog post. There's plenty of bits that have had a big overhaul too.

The economy, for one, has had its trade route logic and Maritime Presence mechanics updated, alongside the addition of a "new Trade Orders feature, Urban Rights, the Megalopolis location rank, and some tweaks to hopefully reflect a more historically accurate economic setups." On the orthodoxy side of things, patriarchs are now characters, with the Law and Tenet system having been reworked and "Religious Influence fully replacing Rite Power."

Beyond that, the Holy Roman Empire has also seen an overhaul with a new Imperial Diet, UI rework and Imperial armies, not to mention a new Papal Authority system and "AI Country Personalities and Disposition Systems." Plus, military systems have been improved with refreshed logistics and more. You'll also find a new in-game event viewer, a sans-serif font accessibility option, 3D City Walls visuals, 2000 bug fixes, and modding support. Yeesh! That's a lot, and I didn't even read the full patch notes.

This update also brought with it the game's first big DLC which is all about saving the crumbling Byzantine Empire. Lot's to be getting on with, it seems!