Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition News

Hello and welcome to an exciting and fun-filled update for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! This is a huge one with massive balance changes, bug fixes, and some new mods available as in-game options!

Plus, there’s an all-new Spicy Expeditions Event to celebrate Spring time! The merchants have come to town and have brought some very flavorful rewards from faraway lands. Complete daily challenges and unlock saffron fields, burning chilis, and colorful shops to decorate your Town Center!

While there are plenty of notable fixes and features to look forward to in today’s build, here’s some of the big highlights coming with this month’s update:

• Spicy Expeditions Event!
  
• Massive balance update!
  
• A mountain of bug fixes based on your feedback!
  
• A few Mods are now available as in-game options:
  
  • Small trees
    
  • Idle economy units pointers
    

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

Thanks 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

[hr][/hr]

         ◆ UPDATE 81058◆

[hr][/hr]


[h2]Spicy Expeditions Event[/h2]

[h3]           🤍April 11th through April 25th🤍[/h3]

This month is dedicated to the adventurous merchants who risked life and limb to obtain luxuries for their customers throughout the ages. They shared the world’s finest indulgences in colorful shops bursting with spices from faraway lands, thanks to fearless explorers in search of commerce.

TODAY through April 25th, complete the in-game tasks within the time limit to unlock exclusive rewards!


[h3]Event F.A.Q.[/h3]

🢂 Q: Do I have to complete the challenges on consecutive days?
[expand]While challenges don’t have to be completed on consecutive days, only one challenge can be completed per day.

This means that you will need to play at least five different days to complete all of the challenges.
[/expand]
🢂 Q: When is the last day I can complete the daily challenges?
[expand]The Spicy Expeditions Event concludes April 25th.
[/expand]
🢂 Q: What do I do if I accidentally unsubscribe from a special mod?
[expand]No problem! All you need to do is click your Profile Icon on the main menu, select Event Mods (under Collection), and then check the unlocked event mod you want to enable!
[/expand]
🢂 Q: How do I change my profile icon?
[expand]You can update your profile icon in your profile:

1. On the main menu, click the Profile Icon next to your name.
   
2. You should now be in the Profile Icons tab under Collections.
   
3. Select your favorite icon, then click the Select Icon button to lock in your choice.
   
4. You’re done!
   

[/expand]
🢂 Q: How do I download and enable mods?
[expand]For information about how to subscribe to and prioritize your mods, visit this article.
[/expand]

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]***IMPORTANT***[/h3]This coming Wednesday, March 22nd, the platform team will be taking the multiplayer servers down for a large infrastructure update.
[h3]Downtime is expected to be 6 hours.[/h3]

WHAT: Large Infrastructure Server Update (Matchmaking Servers)
WHEN: Wednesday, March 22 @ 12:00p PT / 3:00p ET / 19:00 UTC (Countdown)
EST. DOWNTIME: 6 HOURS

[h3]GAMES & PLATFORMS IMPACTED[/h3]

• Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  
• Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (All Platforms)
  
• Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  
• Age of Empires IV (Steam / Microsoft Store)
  

[h3]OBJECTIVES[/h3]

• Large Infrastructure Server Update

[h3]DETAILS[/h3]This coming Wednesday, March 22nd, the platform team will be taking the multiplayer servers down for a large infrastructure update. 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 6 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!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Nili’s Apartment Cup is back and bigger than ever! Ten of the best players in the world will be fighting for their share of the $50,000+ prize pool. The fourth edition of this legendary series, hosted by Nili_AoE, returns to its roots in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition with many familiar faces, and a few new ones too!

The level of competition is just getting hotter after two challenging qualifiers to make it into the top 10. Get ready for nine intense days of competition, starting with five preliminary rounds of grueling matches before a high-stakes single elimination playoff.

Will three-time reigning champion TheViper defend his title? Can Hera get his revenge after a loss in the NAC III finals? Will Liereyy finally take home the trophy in a LAN event? Can JorDan lock in an elusive S-Tier 1v1 tournament win? Or will a new champion emerge and upset TheViper’s reign? The level of competition has undoubtedly never been higher, and TaToH, Mr_Yo, ACCM, Villese, Vinchester and Nicov might have tricks up their sleeves as well.

The all-star casting lineup features T90, Dave, Nili, and Dash. They will be joined by players casting throughout the event, giving the tournament a unique charm and sense of comradery. The cozy atmosphere of Nili’s Apartment Cup that is well-known and loved and won’t be changed, even though it will be hosted in a much larger apartment in Berlin!

[h2]Schedule[/h2]

• Group Stages: 11th – 15th at 11:00 UTC
  
• Playoffs: 16th – 17th at 15:00 UTC
  
• Semi Finals: 18th 13:00 UTC
  
• Finals: 19th at 17:00 UTC (PLUS a 4v4 co-op showmatch at 14:00 UTC)
  

[h2]How to Watch[/h2]

Be sure to tune in from March 11th through 19th on Nili’s Twitch channel for an unforgettable experience featuring the highest level of gameplay Age of Empires II has to offer. This will be an experience you don’t want to miss!

Welcome to a new update for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! This is just a small one with some balance changes, plus an all-new Xbox Celebration Event!

While there are plenty of notable fixes and features to which to look forward in today’s build, here’s some of the big highlights coming with this month’s update:

• Xbox Celebration event!
  
• Balance changes!
  
• Bug fixes based on your feedback!
  

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

Thanks 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

[hr][/hr]

         ◆ UPDATE 78174◆

[hr][/hr]


[h2]Xbox Celebration Event[/h2]

[h3]           🤍March 7 through March 21🤍[/h3]

Hello and welcome to the next event for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! We are welcoming Xbox players to the community in this new Age. Gbetos and Teutonic Knights are dusting off their Siege Towers and monks are polishing up Relics: everyone is ready to join the party in the Xbox Celebration Event!

TODAY through March 21st, complete the in-game tasks within the time limit to unlock exclusive rewards!



[h3]Event F.A.Q.[/h3]

🢂 Q: Do I have to complete the challenges on consecutive days?
[expand]While challenges don’t have to be completed on consecutive days, only one challenge can be completed per day.

This means that you will need to play at least five different days to complete all of the challenges.
[/expand]
🢂 Q: When is the last day I can complete the daily challenges?
[expand]The Xbox Celebration Event concludes March 21st.
[/expand]
🢂 Q: What do I do if I accidentally unsubscribe from a special mod?
[expand]No problem! All you need to do is click your Profile Icon on the main menu, select Event Mods (under Collection), and then check the unlocked event mod you want to enable!
[/expand]
🢂 Q: How do I change my profile icon?
[expand]You can update your profile icon in your profile:

1. On the main menu, click the Profile Icon next to your name.
   
2. You should now be in the Profile Icons tab under Collections.
   
3. Select your favorite icon, then click the Select Icon button to lock in your choice.
   
4. You’re done!
   

[/expand]
🢂 Q: How do I download and enable mods?
[expand]For information about how to subscribe to and prioritize your mods, visit this article.
[/expand]

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.

[h2]Hotfix 78757[/h2]
[h3]Xbox[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where villagers would stop their automated tasks to help build when queueing multiple buildings, requiring the player to re-assign all villagers.
  

Yesterday's update (77209) has been rolled back for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition due to performance issues. Our villagers are working double time preparing a patch for next week!

A new Public Update Preview is planned for Steam users today with the planned fixes.

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

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