Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition News

Historical RTS Age of Empires 4 brings the Knights Templar to battle in new DLC

New Age of Empires 4 DLC Knights of Cross and Rose has a date, as developer World's Edge unveils the latest expansion for its iconic RTS game. The pack introduces two variant civilizations that transform their respective factions dramatically, ten more maps to ramp up variety, and a new game mode focused around key historical battles. Arriving in just a few weeks, you can grab Knights of Cross and Rose at a discount ahead of launch, and even get the base game at its lowest price yet on Steam if you're fast.

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Age of Empires IV: Knights of Cross and Rose – Pre-Order Now!

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Delve into the action of the next DLC for Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose! Experience rich, historically-inspired design across a variety of additional content, including a different design philosophy behind two new variant civilizations – the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster.

Command these iconic armies straight out of history, and forge your own destiny! Lead the Knights Templar in the Battle of Montgisard as they stave off Saladin’s forces, and ensure the House of Lancaster’s survival against the Yorkists after a calamitous defeat at Towton. Knights of Cross and Rose launches on April 8th and is available for pre-order now on Steam with a 15% discount!

Knights of Cross and Rose delivers new experiences to Age of Empires IV players with:

Two new Variant Civilizations that change gameplay like never before – Knights Templar (French variant) and House of Lancaster (English variant).
New game mode: Historical Battles. Lead iconic armies in an action-packed battles inspired by history. Earn medals and test your strategic might in the optional Conqueror mode.
Ten new maps on which to skirmish, battle and forge your way to victory.
New Achievements

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144890

[h2]Variant Civilizations [/h2]

We introduced Variant Civilizations to Age of Empires IV with Sultans Ascend. Since then, the team has pushed things even further to explore a broad range of history by highlighting specific moments in time. With the feedback from Sultans Ascend in mind, we’ve applied a more direct “civilization treatment” and aimed for as high a level of authenticity as possible. We’ve added more content, more unique units, more upgrades and more abilities.

We’re excited to present two exciting new Variant Civilizations: the Knights Templar and the House of Lancaster.

[h2]Knights Templar (French Variant)[/h2]

Command the indomitable Knights Templar with their valorous crusaders and blend of European military traditions, which brings a wide range of possible strengths

The Knights were a Military Order, bringing together individuals from a variety of nations. With a powerful unit roster, the Knights Templar’s unique recruitment system gives them a fun strategic edge.

With the real historic order, Templar Commanderies were established in almost every European Kingdom. In Knights of Cross and Rose, we bring this historic system to life through the Commanderie Age Up system. Select one of three allies with each Age to receive a permanent bonus and unique unit. With a broad roster of unique units to choose from, you’ll need to consider both your short and long-term strategy!

The Knights Templar’s unique keep, the Fortress, will play a key strategic role in their overall gameplay.

We can’t wait to see how things play out when you take command of this legendary Military Order when Knights of Cross and Rose launches on April 8th.

[h2]House of Lancaster (English Variant) [/h2]

Marshal the resolute forces of the House of Lancaster, stepping into the turmoil of England’s War of the Roses. Possessing unparalleled tactics; the House of Lancaster utilizes their thriving economy to acquire technological advances that were new to European knowledge at the time.

The House of Lancaster were key players in two of the most influential wars which shaped European medieval history; the War of the Roses and the Hundred Years War. The Lancasters forged a reputation for their incomparable ranged battlefield tactics and an unyielding support for the arts and sciences.

These historical influences inspired much of the gameplay you’ll see when playing the House of Lancaster in Knights of the Cross and Rose. The House of Lancaster comes armed with not only a powerful ability called Synchronized Shot – a wide-ranging volley shot – but they’re also bolstered by the Manor, a unique building which generates resources.

The House of Lancaster serve as a departure from their English-based civilization while still providing an intuitive playstyle which leans towards defensive strategies, allowing players to add a fresh take on play.

[h2]Historical Battles[/h2]

Live the legacy of these iconic armies in a new single-player action-packed game mode: Historical Battles – arriving with Knights of Cross and Rose on April 8th.

This new game mode deviates from the traditional narrative-focused campaign by focusing in on select moments in history that were pivotal for the Knights Templar and the House of Lancaster. With gameplay enriching cinematics and voice-acting, their standalone mission format allows real history to inspire a challenging set of objectives which put the power to defy history in your hands.

Players are scored and ranked by their performance through a medal system. As you strive for victory and a score you can take pride in, you’ll find secrets, traps, and more hidden in the maps, promoting exploration. The result is a gameplay experience that feels like a puzzle and allows for replayability as you search to discover every element that could ensure your victory and reach the top medal category. For those seeking a true challenge, unlock Conqueror mode based on decisions made during the mission.

Rally the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster in missions inspired by iconic historical confrontations. Lead the Knights Templar in the Battle of Montgisard as they stave off Saladin’s forces. Ensure the House of Lancaster’s survival against the Yorkists after a calamitous defeat at Towton.

[h2]New Maps[/h2]
The shape of the battlefield is a truly dynamic part of your campaign for victory. With Knights of Cross and Rose, we’re adding ten new maps. Here’s a preview:

[h3]Relic River[/h3]

[h3]Mountain Lakes[/h3]

[h3]Waterlanes[/h3]

[h3]Wasteland[/h3]

[h3]Shadow Lake[/h3]

[h3]Rugged[/h3]

[h3]Highwoods[/h3]

[h3]Hedgemaze[/h3]

[h3]Flankwoods[/h3]

[h3]Enlightened Horizon[/h3]

[h2]New Achievements[/h2]

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Knights of Cross and Rose is a labor of love from our team and explores gameplay in new and exciting ways.

We can’t wait to see how you make these new civilizations, maps and Historical Battles your own.

Pre-order today on Steam and get a 15% discount. Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose is due out April 8th! The DLC is priced at $14.99 USD (please check your store of choice for your local pricing if you're outside of the USA), and get ready for more Age of Empires IV, with another DLC to come in 2025!

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[h2]Live the Legacy – Pre-Order Now![/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144890
Pre-order today on Steam and get a 15% discount. Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose is due out April 8th! The DLC is priced at $14.99 USD (please check your store of choice for your local pricing if you're outside of the USA).

Check out The Garrison Age of Empires IV LAN Event!

What began as a small passion project is now a professional showcase of Age of Empires IV talent, with support from Rising Empires and the Age IV community. The Garrison is a four-day community event hosted by BEING ESPORTS in Hamburg, Germany. The LAN features intense competition and community-driven experiences for all types of Age fans! Tune in now through the 16th to make sure you don't miss any of the action live.

At the heart of the Age IV event is the Pro Tournament, where eight of the world’s best players will battle in a double-elimination bracket for a prize pool exceeding $8,000. Six players secured their spots through an online qualifier in February, while two will earn their places through an offline qualifier on March 13th. The eight-player main event will kick off on March 14th! Matches will be broadcast live, bringing the action to fans worldwide.

The Garrison isn’t just about the pros—it’s also a celebration of the Age of Empires community. Alongside the main tournament, the event will host a LAN for 125 players, with additional brackets for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Age of Empires IV, and Age of Mythology: Retold, as well as community parties, activities, and more.

Don’t miss the action live on Twitch!

Steam Spring Sale Happening Now!

The Spring Steam Sale is in full swing and so are discounts on your favorite Age games! Pick up a DLC or two, or try that one game you've had your eye on. Don’t miss your chance and take advantage of the Spring Sale now through March 20th at 10:00 AM PT (1:00 PM ET / 17:00 UTC).

Dive Into the Action of Age of Empires IV: Knights of Cross and Rose

Prepare to embark on an epic journey with Knights of Cross and Rose, the newest Age of Empires IV DLC, set to release this spring! While we’re still putting the finishing touches on this exciting release, we wanted to pull back the curtain and provide an overview of what you can expect from Knights of Cross and Rose.

Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or newer to the series, this DLC delivers rich, historically-inspired content that can be enjoyed across a variety of modes, including two variant civilizations – the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster, for which the DLC is named. Get a fresh look into the opportunities afforded with variant civilizations, allowing us to deeply expand upon the concept.

[h2]Key Features to Look Forward to: [/h2]

Two New Variant Civilizations: Knights Templar and House of Lancaster
10 New Maps for Skirmish and Multiplayer
New Game Mode: Historical Battles

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[h3]Live the Legacy – Wishlist Now![/h3]
Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose is coming this spring!

Wishlist today on Steam, and keep your eyes posted on our official channels for more information leading into our pre-order phase, which is starting very soon on all platforms and will include a 15% discount.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144890/Age_of_Empires_IV_Knights_of_Cross_and_Rose/

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[h2]Age-ing Up Variant Civilizations[/h2]

While base civilizations like the English and French allow us to explore a broad range of human history, variant civilizations provide a unique opportunity to dive deep into specific moments in time and unearth the stories within. This is a design philosophy the team believes in, and with Knights of Cross and Rose, the team was able to expand upon this concept with feedback from the community fresh in mind.

One thing we heard loud and clear from players is the importance of staying true to history (as much as possible!) while still presenting fun gameplay mechanics – even with variant civilizations. With that in mind, we’ve given the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster a more direct “civilization treatment,” drawing inspiration from the moments in time these well-known groups inhabited and aiming for a high level of authenticity as much as possible.

Not only are we leaning more into history as our compass when it comes to overall design, but we’re also packing in more content. These variants bring with them even more unique units, upgrades and abilities to ensure they stand out from their base civilization in meaningful ways. In the case of the Knights Templar, there are no shared traits, bonuses, units or upgrades between them and the French civilization.

[h2]The Knights Templar[/h2]

The Knights Templar, while a well-known historical group, were neither a state nor kingdom. As a Military Order, they were comprised of individuals from a variety of nations, this unique situation allowed our team some degree of creative freedom when exploring how to best represent the Knights Templar in gameplay. While their unit roster is powerful, it’s the Knights Templar’s unique recruitment system that we believe will give them a fun strategic edge.

Historically, Templar Commanderies were established in nearly every European Kingdom acting as a source of power and prestige for the Order. With Knights of Cross and Rose, this system is brought to life with the Commanderie Age Up system, in which you can select one of three allies with each Age to receive a permanent bonus and unique unit. Did we mention yet that Knights Templar have a lot of unique units?

Furthermore, the Templars built a lot (like a lot a lot) of Castles, Fortresses and various fortifications around Europe and the Levant. Thus, the Fortress, their unique keep, plays a key strategic role in their overall gameplay.

[h2]House of Lancaster[/h2]

The House of Lancaster were key players in two of the most formative wars in European medieval history: the War of the Roses and the Hundred Years War. The Lancasters were known for their unparalleled ranged tactics on the battlefield and an unyielding patronage of the arts and sciences.

These historical elements inspired much of the gameplay when bringing the House of Lancaster variant civilization to life in this upcoming DLC. Not only does this variant civilization come equipped with a powerful ability called Synchronized Shot, which allows for a wide-ranging volley shot, but they’re also bolstered by the Manor, a unique building that generates resources.

While the Knights Templar provide several sleek and wholly new gameplay options, the House of Lancaster serves as a departure from their English base civilization while still providing a generally intuitive playstyle that leans toward defensive strategies.

[h2]Historical Battles[/h2]

The new singleplayer mode, Historical Battles, deviates from the traditional narrative-focused campaign by narrowing in on select moments in history notable to the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster. While these Historical Battles aim to enrich the gameplay experience with elements common to campaign – including storybook-style cinematics and voice acting – their vignette quality (as standalone missions) allowed us to take real history as inspiration for a challenging set of objectives that, in some cases, put the power to defy history into the player’s hands. Some of these battles start in desperate situations that were historical defeats for the armies you’ll command, such as the Siege of Safed. This particular setup begs the question: With your wits and cunning, can you hold back the might of Baibar’s army that defeated the Knights Templar?

A core element of these battles is that players are scored and ranked by their performance through an associated medal system, meaning we had to take a fundamentally different approach to the mission design. In the classic campaign format, missions are more linear with a singular focus on describing the actual event. With Historical Battles, we have filled the maps with secrets, traps and more to promote exploration. This leads to the battles being puzzle-like in nature, which means that it’s not a “play once and be done with it” experience, but instead a mode that challenges you to optimize your play over repeated attempts. Players looking for an additional level of challenge have the option of unlocking Conqueror mode based on decisions made during the mission.

We expect this style of content to resonate with a broader audience as it melds aspects of narrative common to campaigns with the replayability and strategic opportunities of skirmish. We’re looking forward to hearing what you think of this approach to singleplayer modes!

[h2]Live the Legacy – Wishlist Now![/h2]
Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose is coming this spring!

Wishlist today on Steam, and keep your eyes posted on our official channels for more information leading into our pre-order phase, which is starting very soon on all platforms and will include a 15% discount.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144890/Age_of_Empires_IV_Knights_of_Cross_and_Rose/