1. Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
  2. News

Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition News

Age of Empires fans are (still) mad about Age of Empires 4's graphics

April 29, 2021 Yup, they're still angry, but there's also plenty of appreciation going around as well


On April 10, 2021, we were treated to our first real look at the highly anticipated RTS game Age of Empires IV. We learned about the campaign, two new civilisations, some of the new features, and even a little bit about the Age of Empires 4 release date. Also on April 10, concerns appeared on the official Age of Empires forums regarding the game's art style. Weeks later, that debate is still raging.


User Jimmy19846071 started the main thread, voicing their opinion that Age of Empire 4's art style looks "cartoonish". It wasn't the only thread to emerge regarding the graphics, but they've all since been merged into one super-thread keeping the debate in one place. You can also see similar concerns being raised in places like r/pcgaming, as well as the game's official Steam forums.


The debate is multi-faceted; generally speaking, there seems to be a lot of concern from some that the graphics are 'cartoon-ish', although most take umbrage with the game's more subtle visual effects, such as what some fans think are oversized weapons, large arrows, and other less 'realistic' effects.


Read the rest of the story...


RELATED LINKS:

Age of Empires 4's biggest challenge will be its own legacy

Age of Empires 4: release date, civilisations, and everything else we know

Age of Empires 4 - everything we learned from the recent RTS fan preview

Age of Empires 4's biggest challenge will be its own legacy

What do you do when your biggest threat is your past self? Recently we were treated to our first proper overview of Age of Empires 4, the long-awaited new entry in one of strategy gaming's most enduring series. We got a taste of the campaign, new civilisations, and insights into the design. It was a lot to take in.


One thing that became apparent quite quickly is how similar Age of Empires 4 seems to its most influential predecessor. Age of Empires 2 is easily the most popular RTS game on the market right now, let alone the most popular in the series. It was the first Age of Empires Microsoft decided to uplift into HD back in 2013, and the only game in the series that has seen consistent support since then, which has only continued through its definitive edition. We also know it's set to get even more support across 2021.


In other words, it's a behemoth, and Microsoft's decision to set Age of Empires 4 in the same time period and act as a spiritual successor (of sorts) to Age of Empires 2 is bold. And risky.


Read the rest of the story...


RELATED LINKS:

Age of Empires 4: release date, civilisations, and everything else we know

Age of Empires 4 - everything we learned from the recent RTS fan preview

Age of Empires 4 "gameplay, civilizations, campaigns, and more" to be shown next month

Age of Empires IV - Fan-Preview-Event liefert neue Infos und Gameplay-Eindrücke



Die Xbox Game Studios und das kanadische Entwicklerstudio Relic Entertainment haben am vergangenen Wochenende, im Rahmen eines Fan-Preview-Events, endlich neue Einblicke und Gameplay zu Age of Empires IV präsentiert - das erstmals 2017 offiziell vorgestellt wurde und seither sehnlichst erwartet wird. Die rund 26-minütige [...]

» Komplette News auf pressakey.com lesen

The Age of Empires: Fan Preview Recap!



We’ve vacated the Town Center (for now) and our Age Fan Preview broadcast has come and gone! We hope you enjoyed the show and have plenty of new news to talk about and share with the community.

In case you missed some of the excitement or information in the whirlwind, here’s a quick breakdown of everything we shared today.

IV | New Civ: The Delhi Sultanate

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
First we revealed one of the civilizations you’ll be able to play in Age of Empires IV: the Delhi Sultanate! This first look showed off buildings, units and…elephants!

  • If you’d like to learn more about what makes the Delhi Sultanate unique, you can visit our Virtual Village for a closer look.
IV | The Norman Campaign

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We took a deep dive into the Norman Campaign coming to Age of Empires IV. We previewed the documentary-style storytelling that will carry you through missions, as well as some of the gameplay captured straight from the campaign: beginning with William of Normandy’s battle for the English throne. Age of Empires IV will have four playable campaigns, and we’re excited to share more as we get closer to its release.

IV | Behind-the-Scenes at Relic Entertainment

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Age of Empires IV is being developed by Relic Entertainment, who offered us a behind-the-scenes look at their Vancouver studio and work on the game. Their history with real time strategy games, their passionate team, and their love for the franchise shone through in our chats with them, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know the people behind the project!

IV | New Civ: The Chinese

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Our trip to Vancouver to visit Relic was followed by another special civilization reveal for Age of Empires IVthe Chinese! Their reveal video gave us a taste for their units, unique buildings, and even the first notes of their musical theme.

II | New Expansion: The Dawn of the Dukes

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
As Fan Preview is a celebration of ALL things Age of Empires, we also wanted to feature our Definitive Editions. We’ve been so thrilled to remaster these classic titles for new and old players alike, and to continue evolving them alongside the community’s feedback!

Today we announced some big additions coming to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition:
  • The second official DLC—Dawn of the Dukes—is coming with an Eastern European setting!
  • Some of our existing campaigns will be playable in two player co-op, with more information about the feature coming soon!
III | New Civ: The United States


Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is getting more content too! On April 13, you'll be able to experience the United States civilization.
  • A new civilization, new customizable home city, distinct units, and unique mechanics are on the horizon!
  • You’ll be able to earn the United States civ for FREE by completing the Fifty States Challenge, or by purchasing and unlocking it immediately via Steam or the Microsoft Store.
  • We’ll also be expanding the civ roster in the future as we head to Africa. More information to come!
♥ | A Community Tribute

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
One of the best things about Age of Empires is the vibrant, creative, welcoming community. A celebration of the franchise wouldn’t be complete without all of YOU, so the Relic and World’s Edge Community Teams got together to pay tribute to you and your love of the games. It’s been a fantastic journey with you all so far, and we can’t wait to see you in Age of Empires IV.

IV | Age of Empires IV Gameplay: An Exclusive Look!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
You’ve been asking to see more of Age of Empires IV, so we pulled a little something together! This epic look at the gameplay of Age IV showcases all of our revealed civilizations as they build and battle across the Ages. There are so many great moments, and we’re excited to hear what stands out to you!

IV | A Final Look...

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Just when you thought we were done, our host hinted at one final look at the game...

...But Wait, There's More!

And with that, our show was done! A big thank you to our host Zak (AKA ZeroEmpires) and to the entire team who worked so hard to put the show together.

But this is just the beginning! Fan Preview isn’t finished just yet; there are a few more activities for you to enjoy over the next week:

  • You can head to our Virtual Village to catch more exclusive content, learn more about the Age of Empires IV civilizations we've revealed thus far, and take part in some activities built exclusively for this celebration.
  • An Age of Empires IV Closed Beta is on the horizon! If you want a chance to take part, you’ll need to be an Age of Empires Insider. Go sign up if you haven’t already; we’ll have more to share about the Beta in the near future, so stay tuned to our social channels and website.
  • There’s also an opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind, Age of Empires-branded, Dell Alienware Aurora R11 Desktop. Enter for a chance to win!
Age of Empires IV is coming this Fall 2021 as our Definitive Editions continue to evolve month after month. There’s never been a better time to be an Age of Empires fan, and we’re excited for what comes next.

So, to everyone joining us, whether new or for the twentieth (or more) years: WO-LO-LO!

—The Age of Empires Team

Age of Empires 4 "gameplay, civilizations, campaigns, and more" to be shown next month

Wonderful news, Age of Empires fans. After a long wait to see more of Age of Empires 4 following the upcoming strategy game's reveal trailer at X019, Relic and Microsoft have now announced that we'll get another good look at it next month.


On the upcoming RTS game's site, the devs have announced an Age of Empires fan preview event for April 10, which kicks off at 5pm BST / 12pm ET / 9am PT on that date. Streaming on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and the site itself, it'll be a broadcast updating fans of the long-running series on developments for several of its games - one of which is its much-anticipated fourth main instalment.


"Whilst we don't want to spoil everything we have in store," the blog post says, "we know that you've been eager for more glimpses of Age of Empires IV since the first trailer at X019. Our broadcast will include a new look at gameplay, civilizations, campaigns, and more for you to enjoy!" So, it sounds like there'll be plenty to sink our teeth into in the way of new details that haven't been revealed yet.


Read the rest of the story...


RELATED LINKS:

Age of Empires 4's biggest challenge will be its own legacy

Age of Empires 4: release date, civilisations, and everything else we know

Age of Empires 4 - everything we learned from the recent RTS fan preview