During the Xbox + Bethesda E3 2021 showcase, Microsoft revealed a release date for Age of Empires 4. It’s coming October 28, 2021 for PC (Steam, Windows Store), including Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Age of Empires 4 is a historical real-time strategy game where players build up their cities, manage resources, and wage war on puny lesser empires who are clearly inferior. The sequel features 4 campaigns and 35 missions that span hundreds of years of medieval history, from the Dark Ages through the Renaissance. Campaigns include Genghis Khan’s conquest of Asia, and Joan of Arc leading the French against the English in the Hundred Years War.

The new trailer also confirmed naval combat. In addition to campaign missions, Age of Empires also supports online pvp and co-op game modes for up to 8 players. Tutorials and easier difficulty levels (for campaign missions) are available to help ease newcomers into the series.

Pre-orders are available now, and includes DLC for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, Dawn of the Dukes. The real time strategy series made waves back in the late 90s for its historical accuracy and mix of building and fighting in real time. The series flagged with a lackluster third installment, but recently resurfaced with well-received definite edition releases of all three games in the last three years.

Age of Empires 4 will release exclusively on PC on October 28, 2021. It’s rated T for Teen.


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Eric has been writing for over nine years with bylines at Dicebreaker, Pixelkin, Polygon, PC Gamer, Tabletop Gaming magazine, and more covering movies, TV shows, video games, tabletop games, and tech. He reviews and live streams D&D adventures every week on his YouTube channel. He also makes a mean tuna quesadilla.