Celebrate out-thinking your opponents or planning ahead to achieve victory with the Steam Strategy Fest Sale! Starting TODAY, complete your Age of Empires collection with up to 75% off on all your favorites. Grab a friend or two and come jump into all the fun!

Don’t wait – discounts end September 4th at 10 AM PT (17:00 UTC).

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Age of Empires IV

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV_Anniversary_Edition/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1959430/The_Sultans_Ascend/

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Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1389240/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Lords_of_the_West/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1557210/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Dawn_of_the_Dukes/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1869820/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Dynasties_of_India/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2141580/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition__Return_of_Rome/

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Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477660/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition_Base_Game/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581450/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition__United_States_Civilization/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581451/Age_of_Empires_III_DE__The_African_Royals/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1817370/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition__Mexico_Civilization/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1817361/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition__Knights_of_the_Mediterranean/

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Age of Empires: Definitive Edition

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1017900/Age_of_Empires_Definitive_Edition/

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Age of Mythology

https://store.steampowered.com/app/266840/Age_of_Mythology_Extended_Edition/

Follow Morgan Black; Knight of St. John on his quest to the New World. Do battle with the hardy Ottoman Empire, ferocious pirates, and a dangerous secret society.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/933110/Age_of_Empires_III_Definitive_Edition/

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is launching a new way to play! For the first time, new players can now join the ranks of this historical and stunning RTS experience with a rotating roster of the game’s 16 civilizations which can be played in both single player and multiplayer games FREE of purchase on Steam.

Now is the time to try Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition! Play for the first time or current AoE III: DE players can invite their friends for epic battles in striking 4K Ultra HD graphics.

Starting today, AoE III: DE will be offering new players the opportunity to play a free trial that gives access to the following:

• 3 civs on a rotating schedule for skirmish & multiplayer matches
  
• 8 hostable maps
  
• Act 1 of the Blood, Ice, and Steel campaign
  
• Art of War challenges
  
• And more!

Plus, all players will be able to join in on monthly global events to unlock new Hero Cosmetics!

How to Access

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is now available to download for free on Steam! New players can jump into a trial version simply by downloading the game on Steam, and open to access straight from the menu!

Already own Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition? Then fear not, as this will not impact current players. All you have to do is invite your friends!

Or, are you ready to access Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition base game with all the civilizations and extras? Get the base game instead!

What is Included?

Pool of 3 Playable Civilizations on a Rotating Schedule

Players can pick from 3 civilizations on a rotating schedule. Every week, the first civilization adding to the starting pool rotates out and a new one in. First up in the roster of playable civilizations are the French, Haudenosaunee, and Russians.

First civilization rotation is on August 18th.

The First Act of the Blood, Ice, and Steel Campaign

Take advantage of the first campaign and jump into an epic journey!

Follow Morgan Black; Knight of St. John on his quest to the New World. Do battle with the hardy Ottoman Empire, ferocious pirates and a dangerous secret society. Befriend unlikely allies and earn their aid to complete your quest of defeating the Circle of Ossus; and their plans to obtain eternal life.

Play the Algiers Historical Battle

Historical battles are story-driven historical narratives in which you’ll be given specific set objectives to complete. Each Historical battle has fully voiced in-game dialogue, beautifully crafted maps, cities and cinematics and the best part is, you can play them with a friend!

Where to Find Co-Op:
Co-Op is easily accessible from two different places within the UI.

From the Historical Battles screen.

1. From the Main Menu, click on Historical Battles.
   
2. Select your mission.
   
3. Click on the Host Co-Op button.
   
4. You can choose to make it public or password protected, and like any multiplayer game, invite your friends.

From the Multiplayer screen.

1. From the Main Menu, click on Multiplayer.
   
2. Choose Host a Casual Game.
   
3. From the Host Game dialog pop-up, under Game Mode, you can choose Co-Op Battle from drop down list.
   
4. After selecting Co-Op Battle, simply choose which battle you want to play from the Co-Op Scenario drop down list.

Algiers Historical Battle



In the 16th century privateering in the Mediterranean flourished as a result of the staunch rivalry between the Ottoman Empires and the European Christian states. Famous Barbary corsairs like Hayreddin Barbarossa and his brothers gained infamy because of their great success while privateering. In 1516 the brothers managed to take the city of Algiers, deposing its former ruler, and creating their own Barbary pirate state. However, the Spanish were not going to let a pirate state exist so close to their homeland and sent a large army to deal with the Barbary threat and acquire the city of Algiers.

Access to the Art of War, Compendium, and Tech Trees of All Civilizations

Art of War
Hone your skills and strategy with the Art of War – a set of 10 in-game tutorials designed to quickly teach the core skills you’ll need to win!

Compendium
Explore the history of each civilization, their military, buildings and more in the in-game Compendium.

Tech Trees
Learn the strategies and tactics available to each civilization in the Technology Tree. Detailing their unique roster of units, technologies, and bonuses to unlock their true potential.

A Collection of 8 Hostable Multiplayer Maps

Host a match and choose from 8 Maps!

🌐 Central Asia:[expand type=details]

Central Asia: Teams are separated by two shallow rivers that flow into the Aral Sea in this arid region.

Settlements: Tengri, Sufi.

Outlaws: Wokou Horseman, Wokou Monk.

[/expand]
🌐 Deccan:[expand type=details]

Deccan: A central, forested plateau overlooking a series of strategically placed trade sites.

Settlements: Udasi, Sufi, Bhakti

Outlaws: Marathan Dacoit, Marathan Thuggee

[/expand]
🌐 Great Plains:[expand type=details]

Great Plains: Home of many Natives and plenty of Food.

Settlements: Comanche, Cheyenne, Apache

Outlaws: Comanchero, Renegado

[/expand]
🌐 Guianas:[expand type=details]

Guianas: Control the central resources and settlements in this large valley, or extend to the perimeter of the map to establish a foothold on a trade route.

Settlements: Caribs, Tupi

Outlaws: Pistolero, Pirate

[/expand]
🌐 Northwest Territory:[expand type=details]

Northwest Territory: A green and rainy region divided by rivers with shallow crossings.

Settlements: Nootka, Klamath, Cree

Outlaws: Comanchero, Renegado

[/expand]
🌐 Malaysia:[expand type=details]

Malaysia: A peninsular region with separate, defendable oceans on each side.

Settlements: Jesuit, Sufi

Outlaws: Marathan Dacoit, Wokou Pirate

[/expand]
🌐 Mongolia:[expand type=details]

Mongolia: Explore generous grassland populated with unprecedented herds of grazing animals and a distant northern Trade Route.

Settlements: Tengri, Shaolin

Outlaws: Wokou Horseman, Wokou Monk

[/expand]
🌐 Saguenay:[expand type=details]

Saguenay: A coastal region with plenty of resources. It may be summer or winter.

Settlements: Cree, Huron

Outlaws: Pistolero, Comanchero

[/expand]

New Global Events! Unlock New Hero Cosmetics

Starting August 2, all players will be able to participate in a Hero Cosmetic challenge event each month! The aim of each of the events is the same – to have a target number of participants join and play to reach the goal of unlocking that month’s Hero Cosmetic to use in game.

In order to participate in the challenge, simply play a single player or multiplayer game to earn XP and gain entry to a leaderboard for the challenge. When there are enough entries on the leaderboard a Hero Cosmetics is awarded to anyone who participates in the challenge.

To find the event progress, navigate to the UI panel on the Main Menu. Statistics are displayed for the following:

• Target number of participants
  
• Current number of participants
  
• Icon and description of the Hero Cosmetic reward

Featured Civilization: August

Reward

Cosmetic

Russians

Mila the Bear
Look into those big wide eyes,
could that bear ever harm anyone?
She just wants to play! Hurl around 
those enemy soldiers through the air!

FAQ

1) Will the free trial version be available on Windows Store?[expand type=details]This will be available on Steam only. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is available for free via Game Pass![/expand]
2) I already own Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, will this affect me?[expand type=details]This will not impact current Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition owners. However this will be the chance to invite friends and new players to try it out![/expand]
3) Will ranked be available in the free trial version?[expand type=details]Ranked is available only in the base game, which can be purchased here.[/expand]
4) Will free trial players be able to play with players who own the base game?[expand type=details]Yes, trial game players can play with base game owners, and both game owner types can host multiplayer games.

If trial players hosts a multiplayer game, they can choose from the limited set of maps available to host on. If a base game owner hosts, any owned maps can be chosen for the map, and trial game players can join the game even if they don’t own the map.[/expand]

Need more help? Visit our support page here!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477660

Emma Bridle, Director of Customer Voice, World’s Edge

The day is upon us, the sun has risen on a new Age. The whole team is so proud to announce that Age of Empires IV is now available on Steam.

This is the first new numbered Age of Empires title in 16 years, and we’re honored to have added a chapter to this globally beloved franchise. Players all over the world have been engaging in fierce battles, building expansive empires, and wololo-ing for close to 25 years and it’s thrilling to give our players more to enjoy.

To celebrate the launch of Age of Empires IV, we are taking over Times Square in NYC by spanning multiple city blocks of large digital screens, a living diorama, and an AR experience. Please share your experiences if you happen to be in NYC. For those in London, heading to Piccadilly Circus from November 2nd could be an experience for the ages.

Age of Empires IV has something for every strategy gaming fan. With eight diverse civilizations, four captivating campaigns, multiplayer, skirmish, maps, unlockable videos, Art of War challenges, masteries and more, we’re excited to see what you play first.

If you’re new to Age of Empires: first of all, welcome! Now that you’re with us, there’s plenty of ways for you to get started:

• Head to the “Learn” tab in the opening menu to find our Intro Tutorial. Our narrator will guide you through the game’s foundational skills, like building your economy and entering combat, whilst you help a group of displaced villagers start anew.
• Got the basics down? Our “Art of War” challenges, found in Single Player, will help you refine skills and earn medals as you improve on the expertise needed to be victorious in future battles.
• You can also play our campaigns via “Story Mode,” allowing you to enjoy the challenges of the game, but with reduced difficulty as you focus on the historical journey and gameplay.
• You could also face up against the AI in “Skirmish” mode. Choose your civ, your AI difficulty, your map and ready up!
• Looking to test your mettle against other players? Jump into multiplayer and select “Quick Match” or create a Custom Game. How you play is up to you! From maps to win conditions, no game will be the same.
• We’ve also provided a breakdown of the hotkeys here on Xbox Wire for easy reference.

If this isn’t your first voyage onto the battlefield, there’s plenty of new features for you to enjoy in Age of Empires IV. Try positioning your archers on top of walls to literally take your strategy to new heights. Place your units in stealth forests to ready the perfect ambush, your units will even whisper to evade discovery by your enemies. Move your entire civilization across the map whilst playing as the Mongols and choose your landmarks to age up and gain additional bonuses.

There’s so much to enjoy with Age of Empires IV and we can’t wait to hear from you as you get started. The team is ready and waiting to hear your feedback! Need support? Head to our dedicated Support Site to get you back to battle.

Wololo!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV/

Get ready! Only three days remain before the launch of Age of Empires IV– the long-awaited return of one of PC gaming’s most iconic strategy franchises.

We also have some exciting announcements for you today:

First, the official launch trailer for Age of Empires IV is available to watch now!



Secondly, as of today, selected press and content creators will start publishing their thoughts on this long-awaited title. Now is a great time to check out some of the content from some of our favorite creators!

Check It Out

Join us October 28 and jump into the fray! Available on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Steam, and Windows.




https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV/

Effective September 1, 2021, the multiplayer service for the 2007 version of Age of Empires III: Complete Collection currently on Steam will no longer function. The critical factor driving this change is that the ESO domain on which this multiplayer service currently resides is no longer under Microsoft’s control and it will be repurposed by its new owners on that date.

To continue accessing the multiplayer services: We have created a patch that points to a new backend owned by Microsoft that you must manually install prior to September 1, 2021. Due to the age of the title, we have no way to automatically apply the patch for you and you will have to come to our website download linked below to apply the patch manually. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The AgeIIIESOPatch_Full will allow you to access multiplayer services without routing through the deprecated ESO service. It is important to install the patch for additional stability and reliability in the multiplayer environment and avoid issues accessing multiplayer matches. Download and install the patch manually using the steps below:

DOWNLOAD PATCH FILE

Installation Steps:
1. Download AgeIIIESOPatch_Full and then run the application.
2. Click Patch Game File in the Age of Empires III Patcher window that opens.
3. Click Open to start the installation in the default Age of Empires 3 folder.
• If Age of Empires III is not installed in the default location, navigate to the folder where age3.exe is saved.
4. Age of Empires III Patcher will show that the game is patched.
5. When Age of Empires III is opened again, a User Account Control prompt for age3.exe will appear.
6. Click Yes to start the game.

With the release of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition roughly a week away, we’ve invited our Age Insider community to join us for a special Streaming Event! Starting October 8 at 17:00 UTC / 10 am PT / 1 pm ET until October 14, the community will join some of your favorite streamers and content creators to provide an exclusive first look at Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition!

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition completes the definitive triad of one of the most beloved real-time strategy franchises in history: with enhanced features and modernized gameplay, including stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics and a fully remastered soundtrack. Insiders participating in the Streaming Event will have access to:

• Single-player and multiplayer content
  
• An exclusive first look at ‘Act I – Blood’
  
• Experience the first two missions from the all new ‘Art of War’ training missions
  
• All civs—including the Inca and Swedes—available to play for the first time!

Insiders who meet the Age III: DE minimum hardware specs, are running on the Windows 10 – 64bit OS, and have linked their Steam account to their Insider profile will receive an invitation to join in!

Looking for a stream? You can search the Age of Empires III tag on Twitch, follow our social channels, or watch our official Twitch Channel for rotating creators over the course of the week! You can also check out some existing Age of Empires III content creators who will be broadcasting during the event:

• ESOC TV
  
• SamuraiRevolution
  
• JAILEDaoe
  
• GiveUAnxiety

PLANNING TO STREAM OR CREATE VIDEOS?

Let everyone know in the comment thread, or head over to the #age-content-creators channel on the official Discord server where you can share a link to your Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition stream or channel!

WANT US TO SHARE YOUR STREAM?

We’ll be hosting player streams throughout our workday on the official Age of Empires Twitch channel, so you can also tune in there to chat with other fans and meet the streamers. Simply tag or flag @AgeOfEmpires or the #aoe3de hashtag in your social post so we know when you’re online!

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is officially coming to Steam and the Microsoft Store on October 15th!

But before then, we’re excited to invite the Age community to join us for an early look as part of a Multiplayer Stress Test come mid-September. Open to Age Insiders only, here’s how to add your name to the pool from which we’ll be selecting participants:

1. Sign up to be an Age Insider
   
2. Share your playstyle and game preferences on the Age Insider Profile
   
3. Upload your DxDiag
   
4. If you’re interested in participating on Steam, make sure you’ve linked your Steam account

Do so before September 4 and that’s it! If your machine meets the minimum spec to play the game (below), then chances are good you’ll be chosen to join us next week!

We hope to see you there. More information coming soon!

Big news from gamescom 2020!

SUMMARY

• Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition will release on October 15th 2020
• Pre-order the game today to explore familiar frontiers on launch day
• Available on Steam, Windows 10 PC and Xbox Game Pass for PC (beta)

The countdown to the launch of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition starts today! Tonight, at gamescom: Opening Night Live, our team was excited to reveal the official trailer for Age III: DE, as well as kick off pre-orders for the game as it nears its release on October 15th.

It’s been years since we kicked off the idea of bringing back the Age of Empires series in definitive form, and through each game we’ve listened to our fans, learned, and refined our process to make the best possible true “Age” experience of each game that we can. In just a few months, long-time Age fans will be able to complete their collection, and those yet to try Age III: DE will be able to experience this groundbreaking game in the best version possible—continuing our mission of setting the standard of what it means to create “definitive” editions of classic games.

In Age III: DE, players can expect 4K graphics, rebuilt 3D assets, a modernized UI, cross-play multiplayer, and fully enhanced soundtrack and audio. In addition to all previously released content, Age III: DE also features two new game modes and two new civilizations exclusive to the Definitive Edition.

For game modes, we’ve added a series of Historical Battles set within the time period the game covers, as well as several new fan favorite Art of War challenges—which were added after the overwhelmingly positive community feedback about their appearance in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! These challenges are specifically tailored to not only teach you the in's and out's of real-time strategy games, but the unique nuances of Age III: DE’s gameplay and meta strategies that have evolved over years of play.

When it comes to civilizations, Age of Empires III and its expansions featured 14 civilizations from across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and we’re adding two brand-new civilizations exclusively to the Definitive Edition: The Swedes and The Incas!

• THE SWEDES are a brand new addition to the franchise and cover one of history's most unlikely great powers: a small European nation which eclipsed all military convention and became a powerhouse on the European battlefields thanks to their innovative military tactics.
  
  
• THE INCAS are a more traditional Age of Empires civilization, covering one of the largest empires in South America, where they constructed mighty stone cities, citadels and palaces.

Whether you're more of a city builder or aiming for military domination, we think all players will have a lot of fun exploring each both civ's unique play styles!

Speaking on civilizations, a key focus of our work at World’s Edge is to authentically represent the cultures and peoples that we depict in our games. While developing Age III: DE, we realized that we weren’t upholding that value as well as we could regarding our Native American cultures; so we set out to fix that: working directly with tribal consultants to respectfully and accurately capture the uniqueness of their peoples, history, and cultures. Returning players will find there’s been some fundamental changes to the Native American civilizations, and we hope you find them as compelling as we do!


We’ll have more to share as we get closer to launch.

If you can’t wait until launch to get your hands on Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, you’re in luck! There’ll be opportunities for Age of Empires Insiders to help us test the game between now and launch.

• Not an Insider yet? Head to http://www.ageofempires.com/insiders to join the program! If you’re already an Age Insider, make sure your profile and dxDiag are up to date.

Pre-orders are available now through Steam and the Windows Store, or you can pre-install the game on Xbox Game Pass for PC (beta). There are multiple ways to score the best deal—whether you’re an existing Definitive Edition owner or are looking to give Age of Empires a try for the very first time!

• Owners of Age of Empires III: Complete Collection on Steam can pre-order/buy the Definitive Edition at a 25% discount, reducing the price to $14.99 USD / £11.25 GBP / €14.99 EUR.
  
• Already own Age of Empires: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Steam? Complete your collection with the same 25% discount!
  
• Xbox Game Pass for PC (beta) and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will receive the same discount on the Windows Store!
  
• We’re also introducing the Age of Empires: Definitive Collection—a bundle of all three Definitive Editions priced at $44.99 (a $60 value).

You can also play the first two Age of Empires Definitive Editions right now through Xbox Game Pass for PC (beta) and Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition will join the roster on October 15th!

However you choose to pre-order and play, we’re excited to have you join us in this truly spectacular game. Keep an eye on the official Age of Empires social channels and website on the lead-up to launch, and  take the time to join our amazing community!

On behalf of our family of developers from around the globe that have worked hard to make Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition a worthy entry in the “definitive” line, thank you for your patience; we can’t wait to engage with you now and into the future!

Get ready for three days of game-packed hype—gamescom is coming in full swing this week celebrating THE HEART OF GAMING, and you can catch it all online!

Over the next few days, gamescom 2020 is bringing you announcements, premieres, and promotions as summer draws to a close. The three-day event will kick off with gamescom: Opening Night Live on August 27, when you’ll want to make sure you tune in.

Catch gamescom: Opening Night Live this Thursday, August 27:

Set a reminder so you don’t miss any of the action! You may just be hearing from us…!