Paradox Interactive updates the game constantly to fix bugs and balance the AI [4].
The Steam Workshop has thousands of mods (like Kaiserreich ) that are much harder to install and keep updated on a cracked copy [3, 5].
If you're looking for a deal, the game goes on sale very frequently on or Humble Bundle , often for around $12–$15.
Most pirated versions can't connect to official servers for online matches [1].
Since Hearts of Iron IV is a complex strategy game, the official version is generally the better move for a few reasons: