Age of Empires is finally coming to (Xbox) consoles. Microsoft confirmed during the franchise’s 25th anniversary broadcast late Tuesday that Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition will launch on January 31, 2023 on Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. released Age of Empires 4 is scheduled to follow sometime next year. Naturally, both titles are available through the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. This is a big change for the real-time strategy franchise as AoE has been a PC exclusive for years.
Rumors of an Xbox version for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition surfaced Tuesday night, when a new offer was spotted on the ESRB Rating Database, earning a teen rating for displaying mild gore, soft language, and violence. However, it wasn’t until a few hours later that Microsoft decided to make it official and add the latest Age of Empires 4 to the mix.
Xbox Game Studios also announced an Age of Empires 4 Anniversary Collection for PC, available now at Steam and Microsoft Storewhich includes all old and new content, throwing players into epic historical battles that “shaped the world.”
In addition to cross-play support, Xbox has made sure to include keyboard and mouse input in the console version. “We are also bringing the game to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), allowing players to continue building their empires even when they are away from PC or console,” said the blog post adds. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition includes all content released on launch day in January, including three maps, 42 multiplayer civilizations, 34 single player campaigns, 10 multiplayer modes, and seven co-op campaigns.
Age of Mythology: Retold
Elsewhere, Xbox’s in-house studio World’s Edge announced a definitive edition to the original 2002 Age of Mythology, promising revised graphics and gameplay changes to suit modern tastes. Titled “Age of Mythology: Retold,” the spin-off title will retain its original essence, inspired by Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology, rather than historical events, as seen in the main series.
“We know that the Age of Mythology community has hopefully been waiting for a Definitive Edition, and we will deliver it,” said Michael Mann, Studio Head, World’s Edge in a statement. blog post. “We’re working hard to bring you the glory of the original game with updated graphics, features and more.” Further details on this will be revealed in due course, although PC Game Pass was mentioned at the end of the trailer.
Age of Empires mobile
And finally, Age of Empires is moving to mobile devices: Android and iOS. The aforementioned World’s Edge is spearheading development on the title and appears to be Microsoft’s latest attempt at breaking into the mobile game market.
It was reported last week that the company was creating an Xbox mobile application store that would allow users to download and install games directly on mobile devices. This development comes as Microsoft’s $69 billion (approximately Rs. 5,67,600 crore) proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard is being reviewed by regulators.
That said, this wouldn’t be the first time Age of Empires released on mobile, with the year 2015 heralding two titles: Age of Empires: Castle Siege and Age of Empires: World Domination, both of which were short-lived. . Currently, there are no details on the beta period or a launch window for the upcoming Age of Empires Mobile.
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition launches January 31, 2023 on Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X, with 2021 Age of Empires 4 following at a later date. No word on when Age of Empires Mobile and Age of Mythology: Retold will release.
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