Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition News

AoE II: DE Pre-Load is live!

Start your download now so you can get into the game quicker tomorrow.


The game is releasing at the same time worldwide. Check the map for release time for your region.

Want to win a pre-order copy of the newly released Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition on Steam or the Microsoft Store?

Throughout the week of Gamescom (August 20 – 24), we will be giving away keys to members of the official Age of Empires Discord, for followers of Age of Empires on Twitter, and during our weekly livestream this Thursday, August 22.

Be sure to join and follow our official channels so you don't miss a single giveaway!

• Age of Empires on Discord
• Age of Empires on Twitter
• Age of Empires on Mixer

Toss us a follow, come say hello, and join the rest of the Age community in celebrating the return of Age of Empires! (And be sure to stick around for more key giveaways in the future!)

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—The Age of Empires Team

Today, we are thrilled to announce that Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition will be coming to the Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) and Ultimate, and Steam on November 14, 2019!

For all you Age II players eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the Definitive Edition, you can also pre-order the game starting TODAY! You’ll be able to enjoy all the features—including cross play with your friends, four brand-new civilizations, three new campaigns, and a transport ship full of game improvements—right on day one, so be sure to unlock your copy today: 

• Pre-order Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Steam

Our goal is to make the best possible version of Age II that we can, working right alongside our community. So while Age II DE’s release is only a few months away, you can sign up to participate in the Age II DE beta right now—visit ageofempires.com/insiders to join the Age Insider program – and help us tune and refine Age II even further. You’ll also have a chance to participate in future beta opportunities, so sign up!

For more information, visit the official announcement over on Xbox Wire.

We’ll see you on the battlefield!

Recently, we unveiled the upcoming Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Beta “Campaign Weekend!" This exclusive, timed event grants one of the earliest looks at the game’s campaign mode. Throughout the event, beta participants will be able to play a remastered version of the age-old classic Joan of Arc campaign and join the Maid of Orléans herself in her battle with the English.

Today, we are excited to announce that the “Campaign Weekend” event will be available for a limited time to all Age II: DE beta participants from Thursday, 8/8, 4 p.m. PT | 23:00 GMT through Monday, 8/12, 12 a.m. PT | 7:00 GMT! Only one question remains… Are you ready to join Joan in her campaign?



Current beta participants will be able to join Joan as soon as the event opens! Once in-game, select Campaigns from the Main Menu and then dive into battle by selecting Joan of Arc’s name from the map.



Not yet an Age II: DE beta participant? Not a problem!

You can still register as an Age Insider for the chance to access the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Beta and join us for Campaign Weekend, but you’ll need to act fast! The next wave of beta invites will be going out later this week, and only Age Insiders with a connected Steam account and DxDiag on file will be considered for this round of invites.



The Age of Empires Insider Program is a new opportunity for gamers who want to get an inside look and have a hand in the development of the Age of Empires franchise.

Insiders will be sent regular communications relating to Age of Empires, along with special survey opportunities to give the development team input on specific areas. Additionally, we’ll be selecting members of the Insider Program for beta events, such as Age II: DE’s Campaign Weekend. You must be signed up as an Insider to be considered for participation in these beta phases, so don’t wait! Our selections will depend on the options you select and the information you provide during registration, and a more complete profile will ensure you’re eligible for the widest range of opportunities.

Ready to jump in? Check out the following guide for step-by-step instructions on how to sign-up as an Age of Empires Insider:

1. Visit our website by clicking here or logging on to https://www.ageofempires.com.
   
2. Select Sign in to begin on the “Become an Age Insider” portion of the website.
   
3. Login with your Microsoft Account.
   
4. Carefully read over and complete the questions in the sign-up survey.
   
5. Add a Steam Account when prompted to during the survey. This is required because the Age II: DE Beta (and Campaign Weekend) takes place on Steam!
   
6. Confirm your survey responses and click Submit Survey.
   
7. Welcome to the Age Insider program! We’ll reach out to you via email if you’re selected to participate in the beta.
   

If you encounter any questions on the Insider sign-up process, we encourage you to check out our Insider FAQ or reach out to us at [email protected].

We hope to have you with us for Campaign Weekend!

Looking to learn more about what’s on the way with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition? Look no further!

Forgotten Empires’ Community Manager, Matthew Turk, gives us a look at the E3 2019 demo with an overview of the most exciting features and details coming your way. Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk1sVpI32Yo Here’s a synopsis of the features covered in the video:

• Dynamic Zoom Controls
• Stunning 4K graphics true to the look and feel of Age of Empires II
• Fully Remastered Soundtrack
• Simultaneous Research and Unit Build Queues
• Global Queue at the Top of the Screen
• Ability to Auto-Reset Fish Traps
• Built-in Mods: Small Trees, Grid Mode, etc.
• Additional Mod Support
• Includes all DLC for HD
• 4 New Civilizations (for a total of 35 Civs)
• 3 Brand-new Campaigns
• Over 200 hours of Campaign Gameplay
• Integrated Leaderboard and Ladder
• Balance Updates based on Player Feedback
• Matchmaking Features
• Scalable User Interface
• Advanced Tutorials
• Crossplay between Steam and the Microsoft Store

Additionally, players who already own Age of Empires II: HD will receive a 25% discount when upgrading to Age of Empires: DE (which will be available for $20 USD at launch). The Steam Summer Sale is happening now through July 9, making it the perfect time to pick up the HD edition and hone your skills before the release of the Definitive Edition later this year!

• Pick up Age of Empires II: HD during the Steam Summer Sale ($5 USD)
• Add Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition to your Steam wishlist for news and updates!

If you’re interested in stepping up to play a first-hand role in the development of the game, you can also sign up to join the beta now! As long as your computer meets our minimum specifications, you will receive an invite to the beta.

• Sign up to join the beta!

See you on the battlefield!

— The Age of Empires Community Team