The game’s creators also talked about the evolution of campaigns, which act as a sort of story mode in Age of Empires. There will still be similar classes of units, but the developers wanted to make sure that players could switch up the gameplay style if they wanted to and even main a certain civilization if they really like its mechanics. For example, a wide-open map could benefit the Mongols with their highly mobile units and towns, while a map with a lot of chokepoints could benefit the defense-heavy English.
Image: Microsoftĭuring a Q&A, Relic talked a lot about adding asymmetry to civilizations the team wanted to make sure that each played differently, with the randomly generated maps playing to different civilizations’ strengths and weaknesses. However, we did get to see that the Delhi Sultanate will include elephant units and that the Mongols will have the ability to pack up and move their buildings and towns (which is mind-blowing to see in action). So far, there hasn’t been a lot of information about the unique abilities and traits of each civilization. So far, we know four of them: the Delhi Sultanate are making their first appearances in Age of Empires, and the Mongols (who are getting a big upgrade), Chinese and English will be returning. That includes the obvious things - like 4K and HDR - to more strategy game-centric upgrades, like new pathfinding that will accommodate tons of units.Īccording to the team behind the game, there will be eight civilizations in the initial release of the game.
#Age of empires 2 expansions series#
The last main entry in the long-running historical strategy series was released in 2005, and the new game looks to build on the formula created by previous entries, while adding features made possible by 15-ish years of technological improvements. The game also has a release window: fall 2021. Microsoft and developer Relic Entertainment showed off a healthy amount of gameplay footage as well as new features and civilizations coming to the series in a “Fan Preview” event. It wasn’t until many years later that I understood who they were and what their historical significance was, mainly through playing grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV.We haven’t heard much about Age of Empires IV since it was announced in 2017, but we’ve finally been given a look at the game, which includes the Mongols and Delhi Sultanate as playable civilizations. Fun fact: my first ever encounter with the term ‘Burgundian’ was during the first mission of one of the original Age of Empires II: Age of Kings campaigns that followed the tale of Joan of Arc. The first of the new factions is the Burgundians.
It’s due to release in just over a month’s time at the end of January 2021.
This is despite the game’s creative director claiming in July last year that they were “done adding civs”. Lords of the West is a modest expansion, but it still adds two brand-new civilisations, three narrative single-player campaigns, and 16 additional achievements. Apparently, weaponising snowmen wasn’t enough. Jan 21, 2021 The Lords of the West DLC is out now.Īge of Empires II continues to solidify its place as one of the most popular RTS games around as Microsoft made a surprise announcement this morning – there’s more DLC on the way! Titled Lords of the West, this is the first official expansion for Age of Empire II’s Definitive Edition since it was released in November last year.