Age of Empires: Definitive Edition News

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is launching a new way to play! For the first time, new players can now join the ranks of this historical and stunning RTS experience with a rotating roster of the game’s 16 civilizations which can be played in both single player and multiplayer games FREE of purchase on Steam.

Now is the time to try Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition! Play for the first time or current AoE III: DE players can invite their friends for epic battles in striking 4K Ultra HD graphics.

Starting today, AoE III: DE will be offering new players the opportunity to play a free trial that gives access to the following:

• 3 civs on a rotating schedule for skirmish & multiplayer matches
  
• 8 hostable maps
  
• Act 1 of the Blood, Ice, and Steel campaign
  
• Art of War challenges
  
• And more!

Plus, all players will be able to join in on monthly global events to unlock new Hero Cosmetics!

[h2]How to Access[/h2]


Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is now available to download for free on Steam! New players can jump into a trial version simply by downloading the game on Steam, and open to access straight from the menu!

Already own Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition? Then fear not, as this will not impact current players. All you have to do is invite your friends!

Or, are you ready to access Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition base game with all the civilizations and extras? Get the base game instead!

[h2]What is Included?[/h2]

[h3]Pool of 3 Playable Civilizations on a Rotating Schedule[/h3]
Players can pick from 3 civilizations on a rotating schedule. Every week, the first civilization adding to the starting pool rotates out and a new one in. First up in the roster of playable civilizations are the French, Haudenosaunee, and Russians.

First civilization rotation is on August 18th.

[h3]The First Act of the Blood, Ice, and Steel Campaign[/h3]


Take advantage of the first campaign and jump into an epic journey!

Follow Morgan Black; Knight of St. John on his quest to the New World. Do battle with the hardy Ottoman Empire, ferocious pirates and a dangerous secret society. Befriend unlikely allies and earn their aid to complete your quest of defeating the Circle of Ossus; and their plans to obtain eternal life.

[h3]Play the Algiers Historical Battle[/h3]
Historical battles are story-driven historical narratives in which you’ll be given specific set objectives to complete. Each Historical battle has fully voiced in-game dialogue, beautifully crafted maps, cities and cinematics and the best part is, you can play them with a friend!

Where to Find Co-Op:
Co-Op is easily accessible from two different places within the UI.

From the Historical Battles screen.

1. From the Main Menu, click on Historical Battles.
   
2. Select your mission.
   
3. Click on the Host Co-Op button.
   
4. You can choose to make it public or password protected, and like any multiplayer game, invite your friends.
   

From the Multiplayer screen.

1. From the Main Menu, click on Multiplayer.
   
2. Choose Host a Casual Game.
   
3. From the Host Game dialog pop-up, under Game Mode, you can choose Co-Op Battle from drop down list.
   
4. After selecting Co-Op Battle, simply choose which battle you want to play from the Co-Op Scenario drop down list.

Algiers Historical Battle



In the 16th century privateering in the Mediterranean flourished as a result of the staunch rivalry between the Ottoman Empires and the European Christian states. Famous Barbary corsairs like Hayreddin Barbarossa and his brothers gained infamy because of their great success while privateering. In 1516 the brothers managed to take the city of Algiers, deposing its former ruler, and creating their own Barbary pirate state. However, the Spanish were not going to let a pirate state exist so close to their homeland and sent a large army to deal with the Barbary threat and acquire the city of Algiers.

[h3]Access to the Art of War, Compendium, and Tech Trees of All Civilizations[/h3]

Art of War
Hone your skills and strategy with the Art of War – a set of 10 in-game tutorials designed to quickly teach the core skills you’ll need to win!

Compendium
Explore the history of each civilization, their military, buildings and more in the in-game Compendium.

Tech Trees
Learn the strategies and tactics available to each civilization in the Technology Tree. Detailing their unique roster of units, technologies, and bonuses to unlock their true potential.

[h3]A Collection of 8 Hostable Multiplayer Maps[/h3]


Host a match and choose from 8 Maps!

🌐 Central Asia:[expand]

Central Asia: Teams are separated by two shallow rivers that flow into the Aral Sea in this arid region.

Settlements: Tengri, Sufi.

Outlaws: Wokou Horseman, Wokou Monk.

[/expand]
🌐 Deccan:[expand]

Deccan: A central, forested plateau overlooking a series of strategically placed trade sites.

Settlements: Udasi, Sufi, Bhakti

Outlaws: Marathan Dacoit, Marathan Thuggee

[/expand]
🌐 Great Plains:[expand]

Great Plains: Home of many Natives and plenty of Food.

Settlements: Comanche, Cheyenne, Apache

Outlaws: Comanchero, Renegado

[/expand]
🌐 Guianas:[expand]

Guianas: Control the central resources and settlements in this large valley, or extend to the perimeter of the map to establish a foothold on a trade route.

Settlements: Caribs, Tupi

Outlaws: Pistolero, Pirate

[/expand]
🌐 Northwest Territory:[expand]

Northwest Territory: A green and rainy region divided by rivers with shallow crossings.

Settlements: Nootka, Klamath, Cree

Outlaws: Comanchero, Renegado

[/expand]
🌐 Malaysia:[expand]

Malaysia: A peninsular region with separate, defendable oceans on each side.

Settlements: Jesuit, Sufi

Outlaws: Marathan Dacoit, Wokou Pirate

[/expand]
🌐 Mongolia:[expand]

Mongolia: Explore generous grassland populated with unprecedented herds of grazing animals and a distant northern Trade Route.

Settlements: Tengri, Shaolin

Outlaws: Wokou Horseman, Wokou Monk

[/expand]
🌐 Saguenay:[expand]

Saguenay: A coastal region with plenty of resources. It may be summer or winter.

Settlements: Cree, Huron

Outlaws: Pistolero, Comanchero

[/expand]

[h2]New Global Events! Unlock New Hero Cosmetics[/h2]
Starting August 2, all players will be able to participate in a Hero Cosmetic challenge event each month! The aim of each of the events is the same – to have a target number of participants join and play to reach the goal of unlocking that month’s Hero Cosmetic to use in game.

In order to participate in the challenge, simply play a single player or multiplayer game to earn XP and gain entry to a leaderboard for the challenge. When there are enough entries on the leaderboard a Hero Cosmetics is awarded to anyone who participates in the challenge.

To find the event progress, navigate to the UI panel on the Main Menu. Statistics are displayed for the following:

• Target number of participants
  
• Current number of participants
  
• Icon and description of the Hero Cosmetic reward

Featured Civilization: August

Reward

Cosmetic

Russians

Mila the Bear
Look into those big wide eyes,
could that bear ever harm anyone?
She just wants to play! Hurl around 
those enemy soldiers through the air!

[h2]FAQ[/h2]
1) Will the free trial version be available on Windows Store?[expand]This will be available on Steam only. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is available for free via Game Pass![/expand]
2) I already own Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, will this affect me?[expand]This will not impact current Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition owners. However this will be the chance to invite friends and new players to try it out![/expand]
3) Will ranked be available in the free trial version?[expand]Ranked is available only in the base game, which can be purchased here.[/expand]
4) Will free trial players be able to play with players who own the base game?[expand]Yes, trial game players can play with base game owners, and both game owner types can host multiplayer games.

If trial players hosts a multiplayer game, they can choose from the limited set of maps available to host on. If a base game owner hosts, any owned maps can be chosen for the map, and trial game players can join the game even if they don’t own the map.[/expand]

[h3]Need more help? Visit our support page here![/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477660

The heat is here and so is the Steam Summer Sale! Complete your Age of Empires collection with up to 75% off on all your favorites. Don't wait too long - the Summer of Age draws to a close July 13th at 10 AM PT (17:00 UTC)!

The heat is here and so is the Steam Summer Sale! Starting TODAY, complete your Age of Empires collection with up to 75% off on all your favorites. Grab a friend or two – it’s time for a Summer of Age!

Don’t wait – discounts end July 13th at 10 AM PT (17:00 UTC).



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[h2]Age of Empires IV[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV_Anniversary_Edition/

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[h2]Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1389240/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Lords_of_the_West/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1557210/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Dawn_of_the_Dukes/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1869820/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Dynasties_of_India/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2141580/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Return_of_Rome/

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[h2]Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/933110/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581450/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition__United_States_Civilization/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581451/Age_of_Empires_III_DE__The_African_Royals/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1817370/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition__Mexico_Civilization/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1817361/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition__Knights_of_the_Mediterranean/

[hr][/hr]

[h2]Age of Empires: Definitive Edition[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1017900/Age_of_Empires_Definitive_Edition/

[hr][/hr]

[h2]Age of Mythology[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/266840/Age_of_Mythology_Extended_Edition/

WHAT: Server Maintenance (Matchmaking Servers)
WHEN: Wednesday, June 14 @ 2:00p PT / 5:00p ET / 21:00 UTC (Countdown)
EST. DOWNTIME: 1-2 HOURS

[h3]GAMES & PLATFORMS IMPACTED[/h3]

• Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  
• Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  
• Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  
• Age of Empires IV (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  

[h3]OBJECTIVES[/h3]

• Routine server updates and maintenance.

[h3]DETAILS[/h3]This coming Wednesday, June 14th, the platform team will be taking the multiplayer servers down for regular maintenance. Please note:

• Ranked matchmaking will disabled exactly one hour before the maintenance window to prevent disruption to newly-formed matches.
  
  
• Any matches still in progress at the start of the maintenance window will be disrupted when it begins.
  
  
• DURING THE MAINTENANCE WINDOW, YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO LAUNCH THE GAME, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MATCHMAKE OR ACCESS ANY ONLINE FEATURES.

To prevent any interruptions, we recommend wrapping up any games at least 10 minutes before the maintenance window. The downtime is expected to last between 1 and 2 hours. You can watch this thread with any changes to the schedule as they arise, as well as the all-clear when the maintenance is complete.

Thank you for your patience!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Rome is calling, will you answer? The Return of Rome DLC is now available for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on PC! This DLC offers an incredible 17 civilizations, 3 new campaigns, a new game mode, plus an additional civilization (the Romans) added to the base game.

Inspired by the 1998 expansion for Age of Empires “The Rise of Rome”, the new Return of Rome expansion delivers familiar and brand new content for both established and new players.



[h2]What Is Included in Return of Rome?[/h2]

Return of Rome is a completely new type of DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, bringing classic Age of Empires gameplay, style and key experiences as a brand-new self-contained experience. When launching Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, simply select the Return of Rome icon on the Main Menu to transition your game into the Return of Rome DLC.


Purchasing Return of Rome will also grant you access to the bonus Romans civilization while playing in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition mode. The Romans will begin as a civilization for single player and unranked lobbies, then graduate to ranked play in the near future.
[h2]New Civilization, New Campaigns, and New Game Mode[/h2]


Included in Return of Rome are all 16 original Age of Empires civilizations from the Assyrians to the Yamato, allowing players to get to grips with the civilizations that started the Age of Empires journey.


Joining the ranks as the newest ancient civilization will be the Lac Viet. The Lac Viet is a fast-paced archer civilization from ancient Southeast Asia that will be exclusive to Return of Rome.



We’re also introducing 3 brand new campaigns created specifically for Return of Rome: Sargon of Akkad (Sumerians), Pyrrhus of Epirus (Macedonians) and Trajan (Romans). With new missions to tackle and stories told through the familiar AoE II: DE style, you’ll be able to live more moments from history.

The D3 Game Mode will challenge players with a new way to play. D3 is an homage to a fan favorite rule set, made popular in the Age Vietnamese professional scene, that is now fully integrated into the game.  This rule set reduces rush tactics and allows players to start their early game more robustly, only allowing fighting with a single unit until entering the Bronze Age, ensuring players reach later Ages for equal battles.  This rule set also bans walls and towers, making for exciting match ups later in the game.

[h5]New Achievements List![/h5]
[expand][/expand]
[h2]Explore Creator Content[/h2]

There’s so much to explore, enjoy, and play in Return of Rome! We’re grateful to our community for the continued support, our players who helped us shape this innovative DLC and our Creator Community who’ve been showcasing the exciting additions that Return of Rome brings via our Creator Preview.




[h2]Available Now![/h2]
Return of Rome is available now on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2141580/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Return_of_Rome/

For those loyal Age of Empires players, we have a special bundle that we created just for you which includes Age of Empires II: DE and the Return of Rome DLC at a discounted price.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/31630/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Return_of_Rome_Bundle/

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[h2]Want More?[/h2]
Want to further expand your Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition experience? Check out the other available DLC’s that will add further civilizations and campaigns to your game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1389240/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Lords_of_the_West/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1557210/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Dawn_of_the_Dukes/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1869820/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Dynasties_of_India/