When players begin their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay, they can determine the fate of any country that existed in the world at the start of the Age of Exploration. Its start date of November 11, 1444 puts players at the end of the Battle of Varna, with the Ottoman Empire on the prowl as a rising global power. While players can select potential powerhouses such as Castile, France, or even the aforementioned Ottomans, fans who want more challenging gameplay can select other nations with disadvantageous starts.