Publisher Xbox Game Studios andAge of Empiresdeveloper Relic Entertainment have announced an anniversary stream that will include some surprises. The 25th anniversary ofAge of Empireswill be celebrated on a live stream with new announcements and interviews. The stream will be broadcast on October 25, following the anniversary on the 15th. Viewers will be able to partake in the celebration on Twitch as well asAge of Empires, Red Bull Gaming, and Xbox YouTube channels.
The legendary real-time strategy,Age of Empires, was introduced in October 1997 and has ever since been considered one of the most prominent games in its genre. After a long hiatus, Microsoft-owned Xbox Game Studios revived the revered franchise last year withAge of Empires 4. Its predecessor,Age of Empires 3, was originally developed by the now-closed Ensemble Studios and was released to the public in 2005. Even after a tremendous downtime, the game seemed to pick up where the franchise left off and was consideredone of 2021’s best multiplayer experiences.
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While not all anniversary surprises have been spoiled by Xbox Game Studios, it has been revealed that the newAge of Empires 4: Anniversary Editionwill be launching on the day of the stream via Steam and the Microsoft Store. The game comes with the new Anniversary Update which has the recently released Ottomans and Malians add-on, adding two newcivilizations to the original eight ofAge of Empires 4. Also, there are new mastery challenges, achievements, maps, and biomes. Xbox Game Studios hasn’t forgotten the fans of previous titles either. The anniversary celebrations will add in-game challenges and exclusive rewards to bothAge of Empires 2: Definitive EditionandAge of Empires 3: Definitive Edition.
Xbox Game Studios has also announced the sixth consecutive Red Bull’s Wololo: Legacy tournament. The participants compete in three games from the franchise:Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome,Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, andAge of Empires 4. In the biggest ever Red Bull’s Wololo 1v1 tournament professionals and amateurs compete against each other in the historic Heidelberg Castle in Germany. Perhaps this amazing location is the secret location where the entire anniversary stream is broadcast from. The anniversary also kicks off Season Three on theAge of Empires 42022 roadmap.
When it comes to the secret announcement or surprises, there’s a very low likelihood that Xbox Game Studios will announce a successor toAge of Empires 4. The shelf-life of strategy games tends to be longer than those in other genres, and the latest title will likely be going strong for a few more years. We could, however, see a proper expansion in the near future. Currently,Age of Empires 4includes only four campaigns and ten civilizations. This means that an expansion likeThe Asian Dynasties forAge of Empires 3could be in the works forAge of Empires 4.
