A Year in Review - Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
It’s been an outstanding year for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, with heaps of free new content, grand tournament spectacles and now, the full release of co-operative campaigns!
You can catch all the details in the video below, or read our quick summary below.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]
Fully Co-operative Historical Battles are now officially released for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! These new co-operative scenarios contain the same story-driven historical narratives and objectives you know and love, with an updated AI you and a friend will need to coordinate to conquer.
Co-op scenarios and campaigns are available to anyone who owns the base edition of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, so grab a buddy and relive the classic campaign experience.
[h2]Matchmaking Options[/h2]
[h2]Death Match Ranked Lobbies[/h2]
After a re-work, ranked Death Match has returned with fully ranked custom lobbies, set to deliver an improved player experience.
[h2]Additional Expansions[/h2]
In the last year, we’ve seen the addition of two new expansions for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Lords of the West and Dawn of the Dukes.
Both of these expansions are available now on Steam and the Microsoft Store for you to enjoy!
[h2]Handicap[/h2]
The handicap option can buff a player up to 2x to allow a more balanced and fun experience in your custom lobby matches. This effects gameplay elements like increasing gather rates for villagers, extra bonus damage for counter units and more HP on all buildings, among other things.
[h2]UI Improvements[/h2]
[h2]Balance[/h2]
There have been hundreds of balance changes over the last year, all to encourage more variation between each unit and the civilizations themselves. We’re continuing to work towards ensuring every unit has a place and its relevance within Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, helping to create even more viable strategies and tactics for you to employ on the battlefield.
[h2]New Maps[/h2]
Over 20 new maps have been added to the map pool, including 11 maps popularized across the Red Bull Wololo tournament series.
These maps are available in rotation for Ranked Matchmaking, or whatever bizarre settings you want in a custom game with your friends!
[h2]An Incredible Year![/h2]
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has had an incredible year, with over 10 major tournaments, a ton of additional free content, new expansions, multiple quality of life additions and lots more.
Thank you for making the last year of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition so special. There’s plenty more to come in 2022!
You can catch all the details in the video below, or read our quick summary below.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]
Co-operative Campaigns & Scenarios
[/h2]Fully Co-operative Historical Battles are now officially released for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! These new co-operative scenarios contain the same story-driven historical narratives and objectives you know and love, with an updated AI you and a friend will need to coordinate to conquer.
Co-op scenarios and campaigns are available to anyone who owns the base edition of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, so grab a buddy and relive the classic campaign experience.
Attila the Hun
Suryavarman I
Tamerlane
Tariq ibn Ziyad
Alaric
Saladin
The Scourge of God
Usurpation
Amir of Transoxiana
The Battle of Guadalete
The Battle of the Frigidus
An Arabian Knight
The Great Ride
Quelling the Rebellion
Gurkhan of Persia
Consolidation and Subjugation
Razing Hellas
Lord of Arabia
The Walls of Constantinople
A Dangerous Mission
Harbinger of Destruction
Divide and Conquer
The Belly of the Beast
The Horns of Hattin
A Barbarian Betrothal
Challenging a Thalassocracy
Sultan of Hindustan
Crossing the Pyrenees
The Giant Falls
The Siege of Jerusalem
The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields
Nirvanapada
Scourge of the Levant
Razzia
A Kingdom of Our Own
Jihad!
The Fall of Rome
A Titan Amongst Mortals
The Lion and the Demon
[h2]Matchmaking Options[/h2]
- Matchmaking Queue to provide more ranked play options for the community.
- A new Quick Play option, to be quickly matched with other similar minded players from around the world to team up and show the AI who’s boss.
[h2]Death Match Ranked Lobbies[/h2]
After a re-work, ranked Death Match has returned with fully ranked custom lobbies, set to deliver an improved player experience.
[h2]Additional Expansions[/h2]
In the last year, we’ve seen the addition of two new expansions for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Lords of the West and Dawn of the Dukes.
Expansion
New Civilizations
New Campaigns
Lords of the West
The Burgundians
The Sicilians
The Sicilians
Edward Longshanks
The Grand Dukes of the West
The Hautevilles
The Grand Dukes of the West
The Hautevilles
Dawn of the Dukes
The Bohemians
The Poles
The Poles
Algirdas and Kestutis
Jadwiga
Jan Zizka
Jadwiga
Jan Zizka
Both of these expansions are available now on Steam and the Microsoft Store for you to enjoy!
[h2]Handicap[/h2]
The handicap option can buff a player up to 2x to allow a more balanced and fun experience in your custom lobby matches. This effects gameplay elements like increasing gather rates for villagers, extra bonus damage for counter units and more HP on all buildings, among other things.
[h2]UI Improvements[/h2]
- A new Technology Tree preview feature: A small version of the tech tree that is now shown when hovering over the Technology Tree button while in-game.
- A new waypoint numbering system has also been added for command queues.
[h2]Balance[/h2]
There have been hundreds of balance changes over the last year, all to encourage more variation between each unit and the civilizations themselves. We’re continuing to work towards ensuring every unit has a place and its relevance within Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, helping to create even more viable strategies and tactics for you to employ on the battlefield.
[h2]New Maps[/h2]
Over 20 new maps have been added to the map pool, including 11 maps popularized across the Red Bull Wololo tournament series.
These maps are available in rotation for Ranked Matchmaking, or whatever bizarre settings you want in a custom game with your friends!
Crater
Crossroads
Michi
Volcanic Island
Team Moats
Acclivity
Eruption
Frigid Lake
Greenland
Lowland
Marketplace
Meadow
Mountain Range
Northern Isles
Ring Fortress
Runestones
Aftermath
Enclosed
Haboob
Kawasan
Sacred Springs
Wade
Land Madness
[h2]An Incredible Year![/h2]
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has had an incredible year, with over 10 major tournaments, a ton of additional free content, new expansions, multiple quality of life additions and lots more.
Thank you for making the last year of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition so special. There’s plenty more to come in 2022!