Age of Empires (AOE) is coming back! Yes, you read that right! The popular game that has stooped the test of time is making an incredible comeback this year. The AOE gaming series was first launched in 1997 and continues to remain one of the most played video games ever. 

AOE III hit the markets in 2005 and AOE fans have had to wait for over 15 years for the next version’s arrival. AOE 4 is all set to release in 2021. Relic Entertainment who are also the developers of Company of Heroes has been developing the game for quite some time. 

Despite limited new information on AOE 4 for a while, the new gameplay trailer has definitely invoked a feeling of nostalgia among gamers. Besides, since its the first entry in the series for more than a decade and a half, fans are eagerly waiting for the game to launch. 

In the meanwhile, if you are gearing up for some long gaming nights with your friends at the time of the launch, you may want to add some trending gaming terms to your vocabulary.

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When is AOE 4 Releasing?

We won’t keep you waiting any longer! Age of Empires is all set to be released on October 28, 2021. 

Relic Entertainment and Microsoft revealed the release date during the E3 trailer. However, there are rumors brewing out of a fan event that you may actually get to play the game even sooner. How? A closed beta will be released before the official release, which will give you an opportunity to start your battles earlier than anticipated. 

Check out the E3 AOE 4 Gameplay Trailer

The trailer provides a short yet accurate representation of the combat mechanisms used in the game. Besides, it primarily focuses on different cinematics that makes use of real-world footage overlaid with 3D models. 

The trailer features game units from the French, Chinese, Mongols, English, Delhi Sultanate, and an unidentified civilization that appears to be from the Middle East. 

Age of Empires 4 will Feature 8 civilizations, developers leave room for expansion

Age of Empires 4 will be released with 8 civilizations. However, Relic confirmed that there will be more additions over the course of time. There is no clarity yet if these expansions will be free or gamers will have to pay a premium for them. 

Relic said that they are starting off with eight civilizations, and the attention to detail given to each civilization makes them more unique. They also said that eight civilizations is a great start and there is more room for expansion. 

The 8 civilizations are:

  • Chinese
  • Mongols
  • English
  • Delhi Sultanate
  • Holy Roman Empire
  • Abbasid Dynasty
  • French
  • Rus

Are there historical campaigns in Age of Empires 4?

Age of Empires 4 Walled City

Age of Empires 4 comes with a perfect blend of everything that the fans were asking for. Previous editions of the game primarily focused on historical figures such as Saladin and the Joan of Arc. Age of Empires 4 will provide a broader view of a civilization’s history and span across different generations. 

For instance, in the Norwegian campaign, although you start as William the Conqueror, gamers will also witness the conflict between the next generations. 

The game will feature four main campaigns which will have a total of 35 full missions. As of now, the four campaigns are:

  • Mongols
  • Normal conquest (English civilization)
  • The Rise of Moscow (Rus civilization)
  • 100 Years War

Game set to feature humanized histories

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Adam Isgreen, Creative Director, said that the company is upgrading the RTS campaign in AOE 4. He said that the developers are doing something very unique with the campaign and that he cannot reveal more details. 

Creators add a modern twist to the game

Adan Isgreem said that the company’s goal is to modernize the game without overcomplicating it. He said that the longer a genre exists, the new games that take it forward tend to make it more complicated. Adan said that Relic aims to modernize the game by doing things differently. 

Age of Empires 4’s soundtrack is being composed by Mikoli Stroinski (Witcher 3)

The brainchild behind Witcher 3’s soundtrack, Mikoli Stroinski announced on his Facebook page that he will compose the soundtrack of AOE 4. This news has created a sense of excitement among fans and is also a strong indication that the game is making great progress. 

Age of Empires 4 recommended system requirements:

  • Operation system: Windows 10 64bit
  • Processor: 3.6 GHz 6-core (Intel i5)
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 970 GPU with 4 GB VRAM
  • Storage: 50 GB available space
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Additional notes: 4 GB video RAM and 16 GB system RAM

Age of Empires 4 gameplay

Age of Empires 4 Units Standing on an Elevation

A lot of details pertaining to the game’s features are still all over the place. However, here are some of the key features that you will see:

  • The game will be completely 3D and include very realistic environments with pronounced terrain and forests that can be used to hide units
  • Each player can control 200 units. This means that in an 8-player game, a maximum of 1,600 units can fight each other on the map
  • The general skirmish gameplay will not feature hero-units
  • The different ages that have been confirmed include Dark Age, Feudal Age, Castle Age, and the Imperial Age. 

Final words

After 15 long years, the wait is finally over! Age of Empires 4 is coming and the gamers are counting days till the game is officially released. While the developers have incorporated a few elements from AOE 2 such as the different ages, they have also added new gameplay features to make the game more realistic. 

It is still not clear whether gamers will have to shell out additional cash to make in-game purchases or add more civilizations. However, one thing is certain that everyone who has played the Age of Empires series is eagerly waiting for October 28, 2021, to arrive soon!

Have you played any of the previous games in this series? What are your thoughts on Age of Empire 4’s release? Leave your comments below and tell us what you think about the trailer!

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Image Source Courtesy: presskit() by Rami Ismail(Vlambeer)

Image 1 Source: presskit() by Rami Ismail(Vlambeer)

Image 2 Source: presskit() by Rami Ismail(Vlambeer)