Age of Empires II (2013) News

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The Age of Empires Team

If you're looking for a holiday gift for your historical-RTS-loving buddy, have we got a deal for you! Pro tip: download the T90 Christmas Mod from the Steam Workshop to add a little holiday cheer to your matchups!

Also, all the other Age of Empires Steam offerings, including Age of Empires III, Age of Mythology, and all associated DLCs, are on CRAZY discount right now: Age of Empires Legacy Bundle

Balance Patch 5.8 is now live for all users! Thanks to everyone who participated in the open beta. This is a big balance patch aimed at improving the competitive experience. Discussion thread here.


CHANGES IN PATCH 5.8

• (Elite) Elephant Archers +2 archer armor vs anti-archer attacks (from -2 to 0).
  
• (Elite) Elephant Archers -2 armor vs anti-cavalry archer attacks (from 0 to -2).
  
• Eagle Scout training time in Castle Age +3s (from 32s to 35s), same as Eagle Warrior.
  
• Incan free llama bonus is no longer tied to the scout; requires Town Center on nomad-style maps.
  
• Vietnamese reveal enemy bonus no longer works in full tech tree games.
  
• Malay infinite fish trap bonus no longer works in full tech tree games.
  
• Khmer no building requirement bonus no longer works in full tech tree games.
  
• Teuton team bonus no longer overrides Faith technology in post-imperial age start games.
  
• Fixed the issue with siege workshops not receiving extra HP and armor in Imperial Age.
  
• Fixed the issue causing the attack sound of Galleons to not play.
  
• Fixed the issue with buildings placed on Desert, Cracked terrain not receiving a bonus damage when being attacked.
  
• Hunting dogs effect no longer appears in games with starting ages later than Dark.
  
• Villagers and towers do a reduced bonus damage vs walls before castle age.
  
• Watch Towers, Guard Towers and Keeps cost +25w.
  
• Siege Tower collision size changed from 0.50 to 0.45.
  
• Coinage moved up to Castle Age, Banking moved up to Imperial age.
  
• Couriers cost +200f +400g (from 400f 200g to 600f 600g).
  
• Italian fishing ship cost bonus reduced to 15% (from 20%).
  
• Khmer receive Arbalest upgrade.
  
• Mayan farmers work at closer speed to the farmers of other civilizations.
  
• (Elite) Arambai cost changed to 80 wood 60 gold (from 55w 60g).
  
• (Elite) Karambit Warrior cost changed to 30f 15g (from 25f 10g).
  
• Vietnamese archer HP bonus changed to immediate +20% HP to foot archers. (instead of the staggered effect).
  
• (Elite) Rattan Archers +5 HP.
  
• Korean faster building fortifications bonus is reduced for Towers(similar to how the Spanish building bonus is reduced for Wonders)
  
• Mamelukes receive 5 less damage from Halberdiers.
  
• Fire Galleys do 1 damage to fishing ships (reduced from 3)
  
• Villagers and towers no longer do reduced damage against walls before Castle Age
  
• (Elite) Camel Archers training time +4s (from 21s to 25s)
  
• Indians camels no longer receive +1 melee armor bonus
  
• Slavic farming bonus is closer to the intended +15% value (multiplier reduced from 1.31 to 1.28)
  

The much-anticipated balance patch 5.8 is now live for you to play on the Open Beta branch!

This patch contains many improvements and balance changes geared toward competitive play. Full patch notes available here. That is also the best place to leave feedback about the changes in 5.8 or to report bugs.

Your continued participation in the open beta ensures that we can keep making Age of Empires II HD the best game it can be for our millions of players worldwide!

Here's how to join the beta:

1. Right-click on Age of Empires II HD in your Steam Library and seelct "Properties".
   
2. Navigate to "Betas".
   
3. In the dropdown menu, select "open-beta" and then click "Close".
   
4. Wait for the game to update, then play!
   

You can reverse this process by following the steps above and selecting "None" in step 3.

Age of Empires II HD ranked play is fully operational in the main branch! Thanks to everyone who participated in the open beta this past week.

As usual, please continue to report bugs here in the forums!