Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition News

Here is the latest Ranked Map Rotation as determined by the developer picks and community vote. For the next two weeks, you’ll be able to pick from the new set of maps listed below!

Map pools as of: 6p Pacific (9p ET / 20:00 UTC / 22:00 CEST) on Tuesday, October 19 to Tuesday, November 02

This week's 1v1 Community Map Picks are in BOLD.

This week's TG Community Map Picks are in BOLD.

WHAT: Server Maintenance (Matchmaking Servers)
WHEN: Wednesday, October 20 @ 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)
  

[h3]OBJECTIVES[/h3]

• Routine server updates and maintenance.

[h3]DETAILS[/h3]This coming Wednesday, October 20th, 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!

It’s that time again! Visit the official Age of Empires forum to vote for your Ranked map pool for the next two weeks.

[h3]1v1 Random Maps[/h3]
✔ ARABIA
✔ ARENA
✔ ISLANDS
✔ RUNESTONES

[h3]Team Games[/h3]
✔ ARABIA
✔ ARENA
✔ BLACK FOREST
✔ KAWASAN
✔ NOMAD
✔ TEAM ISLAND

To participate in the community ranked map pool vote, you will need to login to the official Age forum using your free Microsoft account. Then, click the images below to jump to this week’s polls.

:alertalert: Polls are open until NOON Pacific on Sunday, October 17 (or 3:00p Eastern / 19:00 UTC), so be sure to cast your vote and check back to see which maps emerge victorious!

October is here and we are celebrating on Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and with an entirely new event for the occasion!

This year’s October Event is spooky – we’re celebrating Halloween! Set out your pumpkins and get ready to enjoy this month’s event!

• Unlock a Decoration for the Town Center!
  
• Unlock three new Halloween-themed profile icons!
  
• Unlock a knight with a Halloween style pumpkin head!/*]
  

Now through October 31 complete the in-game tasks within the time limit to unlock exclusive rewards!

🎯 Sign into Xbox Live.
🏆 Unlocks the carved and glowing pumpkin profile icon.
💾 *Required* if you want to save any rewards unlocked during the event!

Each of the following challenges must be unlocked in order and on separate days:

🔒 Research the Crop Rotation technology in the Mill.
🧱Farm graphics replaced with Pumpkin patch farms.

🔒 Research the Paladin technology in the Stable.
🏆 Unlocks a menacing and evil-looking Boar profile icon.

🔒 Train 100 units in a single match. 
🧱 Unlocks the Town Center Scarecrow decoration.

🔒 Slay two boars in a single match.
🏆  Unlocks the Gravestone profile icon. (text: RIP)

🔒 Kill 500 units in any amount of matches.
🏆Unlocks the Knight with Halloween style pumpkin head.

Remember: if you sign in to Xbox Live during the event, you’ll get to keep all of the mods and profile icons you’ve achieved! Sign in, earn your rewards, and enjoy!

We hope you enjoy the Halloween October Celebration Event!

—The Age of Empires Team

Here is the latest Ranked Map Rotation as determined by the developer picks and community vote. For the next two weeks, you’ll be able to pick from the new set of maps listed below!

Map pools as of: 6p Pacific (9p ET / 20:00 UTC / 22:00 CEST) on Tuesday, MMMM DD to Tuesday, MMMM DD

This week's 1v1 Community Map Picks are in BOLD.

This week's TG Community Map Picks are in BOLD.