It's been nearly sixteen years since we received the last brand new Age of Empires game but a new instalment has finally seen the light of day. It's been a long wait for fans of the franchise despite multiple re-releases of previous titles.
The real-time strategy king returns in a very different gaming landscape to the one it last released a game in, so what can we expect Age of Empires 4 to bring to the table after such a long time away?
LATEST - Out Now!
Age of Empires 4 is now quite available! Whether you're digitally pre-ordered the game or are using Xbox Game Pass you can hop right away.
The worldwide release of Age of Empires 4 is took place on:
- October 28, 2021, 11 am EST
- October 28, 2021, 8 am PT
- October 28, 2021, 4 pm UTC
- October 29, 2021, Midnight JST
If you're not able to jump straight in, be sure to check out our review instead!
Age of Empires 4 Release Date
Age of Empires 4 will be released on Thursday, 28 October for PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. The game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass for PC on release day meaning if you subscribe to the service, you will not have to pay any extra to play the game.
Despite it having been so long since the last new Age of Empires title, there are no revolutionary changes planned at release. Multiple previews of the game have cited that it plays very much like a remake of AoE 2, arguably the most popular title in the series.
While this may be disappointing news to some, there's proof that taking a well-made product and updating it for a modern audience can still provide a fantastic and unique experience.
Civilizations
There will be eight civilizations available at launch in Age of Empires 4. They are;
- Chinese
- Delhi Sultanate
- English
- Mongols
- French
- Abbasid Dynasty
- Holy Roman Empire
- Rus
Each civilization will have its own unique perks and actions ensuring that they all play in very different ways. It's well worth exploring the profiles of each civilization as you'll want to find out which one matches your ideals the most.
More may be added as downloadable content in the future but nothing is expected too close to launch.