Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition News

WHAT: Server Maintenance (Matchmaking Servers)
WHEN: Wednesday, October 16 @ 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)
  
• Age of Empires IV (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  

[h3]OBJECTIVES[/h3]

• Routine server updates and maintenance.

[h3]DETAILS[/h3]This coming Wednesday, October 16th, 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!

Tomorrow is another fun-filled update for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! This will bring back the Empire Wars 1v1 ladder, plus bug fixes, new quality of life features, balance changes, and more! While there are plenty of notable things to look forward to in tomorrow’s build, here’s some of the big highlights coming with this update:

• 1v1 Empire Wars is available again, replacing the Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado ladder.
  
• Several changes and fixes on Victors and Vanquished scenarios.
  
• New QoL changes.
  
• Bug fixes based on your feedback.
  
• Balance changes.

Be sure to dig down into the post below to get all of the smaller details before hopping in-game and checking them out firsthand.

This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!

💬 DISCUSS: Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Forum
🗣 JOIN: The Age of Empires Official Discord

Thank you again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Empires what it is today!

—The Age of Empires Team
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        ◆ Update 125283 ◆

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Game

[h3]Stability & Performance[/h3]

• The game will no longer momentarily display a black screen on lower spec machines while switching between Age of Empires II and Return of Rome modes.
  
• Fixed an issue where a black screen softlock could be encountered when restoring a save file of a custom campaign.
  
• Fixed an issue where the game would freeze in certain situations (was encountered mostly when playing custom scenarios).
  
• Fixed a crash which could occur when targeting movable objects on impassable tiles.

[h3]Graphics[/h3]

• Bamboo tree graphics (including felled and stumps) are no longer reduced by Small Trees option.

[h3]Audio[/h3]

• Menu narrator no longer plays if the window is out of focus.

[h3]UI[/h3]

• Bridges are now displayed on the minimap with the same color as shallows terrain.
  
• Corrected the 4v4 map size given in the Ranked Team Queue menu from “normal” to “large”.
  
• Civilization Selection
  
  • The civilization selection dialog sports a new look! The new design includes the ability to mark civilizations as starred. On Console, the dialog now also uses a grid instead of a carousel, making it easier to select any civilization.
    
  • Added the Custom civilization selection mode, which chooses randomly from starred civilizations.
• Fixed an issue where the game language was resetting to the system language at the game launch.

[h3]Hotkeys[/h3]

• Changed the default Drop Off Resources hotkey for HD preset from A to Z, preventing the conflict with Economic Buildings hotkey.
  
• In Return of Rome, changed the default Cancel build hotkey in HD hotkey preset to unassigned.

[h3]Xbox[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where the mouse could not be used in the settings menu.
  
• Fixed an issue where hotkeys could not be set via the mouse.
  
• Fixed an oversight where Fortified Churches were excluded from the “All Back to Work” button.
  
• Fixed an issue where 2013 Xbox One consoles were unintentionally able to join 3v3 and 4v4 ranked queues.
  
• Fixed an issue where Voice Chat to Text setting couldn’t be enabled without a game restart.
  
• The game no longer crashes on the load screen during the Launch Chunk while in ‘Ready to Play’ state of the install.

This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!

[h3]:alertalert: DISCLAIMER[/h3]This list is subject to change and should not be considered a comprehensive list of all the known issues we’re tracking. The above is to inform you of the team’s current priorities, which will change as other issues arise or take precedence.

For the latest updates and announcements, please visit our social channels.

[h3]Minor Update 127161[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where Italians don't get discounted fishing ships when you create them by using a hotkey
  
• Fixed an issue where using the Hotkey to Produce Fishing Ships at the Dock Produces "Antiquity Mode Fishing Ships" Instead
  
• Fixed an issue where sending a gold miner that is carrying gold to a dock keeps mining it like if it was a gold vein
  
• Fixed an issue with the rebuilding fish trap hotkey.
  
• Fixed an issue where 1 HP Mongol light cav/steppe lancers die when reaching imperial age.
  
• Fixed an issue where AI would not create military ships.
  
• Addressed various crashes related to cloud saves.
  
• Fixed an issues where loading data mods would result in error messages.
  
• Fixed an issue where units would randomly switch to a staggered formation.
  
• Fixed an issue where tool tips would remain on screen even after changing menus.

First released in 2021, Overreign is a mod that converts Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition into a first-person experience. Though it's been around for a while it launched in quite a buggy state, but creator Spriteblood kept plugging away and now it's looking much more stable: it came to my attention thanks to a video from YouTuber T90Official, who specialises in AoE2 content, and ably demonstrates just what first-person PvP looks like in a 1999 RTS...
Read more.

Dive into epic battles, build your empire, and experience history like never before! 🏰

Grab everything Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has to offer in the Ultimate Bundle, or pick up a discount on any DLC or digital extras you've missed out on.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/45803/Age_of_Empires_II_Ultimate_Bundle/

The Red Bull Wololo tournament is back with Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado starting tomorrow, October 3rd at 7:00 am PT (10am ET / 14:00 UTC)! New legends will soon be forged through the fires of competition at Castillo de Almodóvar del Río in Spain – summoning the fiercest Age of Empires champions to challenge the reigning kings of the castle for their crown and Age of Mythology: Retold‘s first heroes!

[h2]What, When, Where, and How Can I Watch?[/h2]
Fearless contenders will join us for the main event starting on October 3rd and culminate with four champions proudly taking their new thrones on October 5th and 6th.

Plus, with over twenty-five years of legendary battles in the Age of Empires franchise, Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado will comprise of four titles in which competitors will be able to prove themselves worthy:

[h3]Age of Empires – Played using Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – Return of Rome[/h3]
October 6

[h3]Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition[/h3]
October 3, 4, 5, 6

[h3]Age of Empires IV[/h3]
October 5

[h3]Age of Mythology: Retold[/h3]
October 6

You can catch the main event live on the Red Bull Gaming YouTube and Twitch channels. Whether you plan to witness the showdown from home or from the castle grounds, there will be plenty of action and activities for fans to enjoy.


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Check out previous gameplay videos from the last Red Bull Wololo Legacy tournament for Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and Age of Empires IV!

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