Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition News

Server Maintenance - Wednesday, May 18

WHAT: Server Maintenance (Matchmaking Servers)
WHEN: Wednesday, May 18 @ 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, May 18th, 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!

Age of Empires IV — Server-Side Patch 14681

In Server-Side Patch 14681, we’re bringing you changes to Mangonels! We recognize there’s been a lot of discussion around Mangonels, and we believe these changes build upon the unit’s uniqueness. We’re always open to more feedback, however! You may also be excited to know that the HRE’s Prelates have remembered how to shuffle their feet and no longer get stuck when inspiring their allies.

NOTE: Upon updating to this patch, you will no longer be able to utilize replays from previous updates. At times, saves will also be impacted, though we’ve taken additional steps to ensure your campaign saves are not impacted by this particular update. Skirmish saves from the previous patch are impacted and will no longer be accessible after you update.

Head on over to the link below to learn more about the coming with Server-Side Patch 14681.

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[h2]What's a Server-Side Patch?[/h2]

Server-Side patches are an additional path for us to deliver smaller, more pointed changes.

This new approach allows us to make data changes that influence balance and certain bugs more quickly. With a Server-Side Patch, you won’t be required to download and install an update from your platform of choice. Instead, all you need to do is launch the game, where you'll be greeted by a notification prompting you to take a quick in-game patch. After you’ve updated, that’s it – you should see the changes take effect immediately!

While we’ll still need to rely on traditional updates for certain changes, as well as for including content, we intend to use this fast-patching method to help with balance, gameplay integrity and more as we hear from you. Read on to find a list of balance changes we've prepared based on your feedback!

Age of Empires IV — Festival of Ages: Sounds of Reverie

For our second event in Age of Empires IV's Season One, we're celebrating some of the music you might overhear at a Festival with Sounds of Reverie. You can challenge yourself to a match of the Royal Rumble game mode mod and face off with an enemy King, improve your strategy by watching a replay, and more to earn rewards that let you show off your festive spirit!

Unlock new Portraits!
Unlock new Coats of Arms!
Show off your earned rewards while celebrating the Festival of Ages!

[h2]Event Rewards[/h2]

From May 4th through May 18th, complete in-game tasks within the time limit to unlock exclusive rewards! The first challenge unlocks 1 Coat of Arms that you can put on your banner.

[h2]Show it off![/h2]
You can show what you’ve earned by changing your portrait or flashing your sweet coat of arms, so show off your rewards with pride!

We hope you enjoy our second event of Season One, Sounds of Reverie, and look forward to the rest of the events in this Season. Don’t forget to keep letting us know what you’d like to see in upcoming seasons – it excites us too!

Age of Empires 4 patch lets you pick multiplayer map sizes

People play RTS games for different reasons, and in different ways - one person might like getting straight to the fighting, while another might prefer to grow their base, meticulously laying out castle walls and farms before heading off to war. The latest patch for Age of Empires IV caters to both playstyles by opening up the map size options for multiplayer matches.

Patch 14681 lets you pick out your map sizes for multiplayer games. You can select options to go up or down a size from the default now - so for instance, a 4v4 can be played on a large map, and 3v3 can be played on a medium-sized map.

The patch also changes the default map size for a couple quick match configurations, making for tighter (shorter) games. 2v2 matches will take place on small maps, 3v3 games on medium maps, and 4v4 matches will go down on large maps. However, you'll still be able to use gigantic maps (or any other size map) in custom games - these adjustments only apply to quick match games.

Read the rest of the story...

Age of Empires IV — Patch 11963 is Now Live!

The latest patch for Age of Empires IV is now available!

Patch 11963 brings with it Team Game Map Size changes, map tuning, balance changes, and more!
For full details be sure to head over to the original Patch Notes using the link below.

NOTE: Upon updating to this patch, you will no longer be able to utilize replays and saves from previous updates. While we do our best effort to minimize impact on saves, Campaign and Skirmish saves from the previous patch are impacted and will no longer be accessible after you update. Campaign progress will NOT be lost.