Bannerlord and War Sails update adds 39 naval events, campaign starts and blood feuds

TaleWorlds Entertainment has released a substantial update for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord and its single-player expansion, War Sails, expanding the ways players begin campaigns, manage their clans and progress at sea. The company's November 12, 2026 press release describes the Bannerlord 1.5 and War Sails 1.3 update families. Its official patch announcement, dated November 11, identifies the live PC versions as Bannerlord v1.5.7 and War Sails v1.3.7. Console deployment remains subject to completion of the release process; the PC announcement should not be read as confirmation that console players already have the update.

Earlier access to the sea, without abandoning fleet progression

Building a complete fleet still takes progression, ships and crews. War Sails now offers additional entry points into naval play rather than removing those requirements. Advanced Starting Options allow a Sandbox campaign to begin with a small trading vessel, while a new ferry system lets smaller parties travel between selected coastal villages without owning a ship.

Smaller pirate parties provide more approachable encounters for new captains. Growing fleets also become easier to tailor to the task at hand: ships can be moored and left behind, allowing players to sail with the vessels best suited to trading, raiding or combat. Coastal castles gain port points and naval blockades, creating further opportunities for fleets to meet at sea.

The update introduces 39 naval random events, each offering a short story and decisions that can influence traits, skills, party members, items or gold. Naval combat also gains a counter to boarding. Players can destroy attachment ropes before a bridge forms, interrupting the enemy's attempt to cross between ships.

Three layers of campaign customisation

Advanced Starting Options extend beyond War Sails into Bannerlord. Campaign Scenarios provide tailored, partly randomised world states, changing the initial situation in Calradia and creating additional reasons to replay the campaign.

Player Starts allow experienced players to reach later-game situations sooner or begin with a particular role. Most roles must first be unlocked through normal play, retaining a progression path for newcomers. War Sails adds naval alternatives, including a start with a fleet or a trading convoy.

Modifiers adjust mechanics such as recruit generation, bandit party sizes, rebellion chances and travel speeds. Players can combine options from all three categories. Shareable seeds make it possible to recreate the same Calradia, allowing a chosen campaign setup to be reproduced rather than remaining a one-off combination.

Battle remains, personality effects and family consequences

Battle Sites and Wreckages now appear at locations where fighting has taken place. Investigating them can reveal wounded survivors, denars, trade goods, valuables and information pointing towards nearby bandit hideouts.

Personality Traits receive more visible gameplay effects, bringing both benefits and drawbacks across Calculating, Generosity, Honor, Mercy and Valor. AI-controlled lords benefit from their traits as well, so the change is not limited to the player's character.

Executions have broader consequences through the new Blood Feud system. Executing somebody from another clan can trigger a feud that puts captured family members at risk of execution. Improved relations or a settlement arranged through a Ransom Broker provide ways to end the dispute.

Clan parties also receive more direct behavioural controls. Players can determine whether they may raid villages, donate troops or join armies. War Sails owners can additionally decide whether clan parties may own fleets. Four battle terrains join the game: two south of Ortysia, one southeast of Quyaz and one south of Baltakhand.

Multiplayer changes and wider improvements

Captain Mode adds targeted charge orders for infantry, ranged and cavalry formations. Streamer Mode introduces additional displays, camera controls and improvements to spectating.

Beyond the headline features, TaleWorlds lists a difficulty pass for the early naval storyline, improved world-map visuals, faster progression for the Shipmaster and Boatswain skills, increased travel speeds on land and at sea, reworked battle reinforcements, additional modding support and numerous fixes. The developer says these changes are intended to provide greater freedom and variety for players starting a new campaign, returning to Calradia or preparing their first fleet. It also says support for Bannerlord and War Sails will continue.

Availability and the setting behind the update

The updates are available on PC through Steam, while console versions are still forthcoming. Separately, the press release lists the games' existing platforms as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG. That general availability list is not confirmation of simultaneous patch delivery across every store and console.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord combines action, role-playing and strategy in a Sandbox world where players create their own stories. A prequel to Warband, it is set 200 years before the Calradia familiar from the earlier game. The Calradian Empire is approaching collapse, several factions are fighting over its remnants, and other powers seek to exploit the disorder. Bannerlord entered early access on March 30, 2020 and subsequently received numerous updates adding gameplay features. TaleWorlds describes the response from players and reviewers to its depth and Sandbox experience as positive. Released in November 2025, War Sails introduced naval warfare to Calradia, enabling players to command ships, fight at sea and lead fleets.

TaleWorlds Entertainment is an independent developer founded in 2005. The company says it has grown from two founders to more than 120 developers, including a self-publishing team. It also cites the Mount & Blade series' awards and repeated appearances in PC Gamer's “Top 100 PC Games of All Time” list.

Sources: TaleWorlds official patch notes, official Steam announcement, November 12 TaleWorlds press release via GamesPress. Development update video. Images: TaleWorlds official press kit, in-game screenshot.