Tag: Age of Empires IV

  • Rare Steam deal: Top RTS game hits lowest-ever price

    Key Takeaway

    – Age of Empires IV Anniversary Edition is heavily discounted on Steam ($14 instead of $40), a rare price point last seen in December 2025.
    – The base game offers strong value with 8 unique civilizations and 30-40 hours of campaign content before any DLC.
    – The game follows classic RTS mechanics (economy, research, warfare) with tactical battles featuring unit types, siege weapons, and terrain advantages.
    – It holds an 85% positive rating from nearly 93,000 Steam user reviews and is rated “Playable” on Steam Deck.
    – Critics praised variety and content but noted a lack of original ideas, technical issues, and dated visuals (8/10 from PC Games).

    Age of Empires IV gets a cheap Steam Anniversary Edition

    Alongside series such as Warcraft, StarCraft and Command & Conquer, Age of Empires remains one of the biggest names in real-time strategy. The franchise debuted on PC back in 1997, while Age of Empires IV was released in October 2021 and is still receiving regular updates and new content. Most recently, the Yue Fei’s Legacy expansion launched in May 2026, adding the Jin Dynasty as a new civilization alongside a new campaign. The Anniversary Edition is now available on Steam for around $14 instead of $40. According to SteamDB, this price level has only been reached a few times before, most recently in December 2025. Anyone who wants all DLC content, however, will have to spend significantly more.

    The game play and historical conflicts

    Age of Empires IV takes players into the major conflicts of the Middle Ages. Whether leading the English, Mongols, Chinese or one of the many other civilizations, the goal is always to turn a small settlement into a thriving medieval stronghold. Historical campaigns revisit real events such as the Norman conquest of England and the expansion of the Mongol Empire. At its core, the game follows the classic RTS formula of economy, research and warfare. With each new age, players gain access to additional buildings, stronger units and more powerful siege weapons. Battles are highly tactical, with different unit types, siege engines and terrain advantages all playing an important role.

    Review scores and community feedback

    In its review, PC Games praised the strong gameplay variety. The base game alone includes eight civilizations, each with its own mechanics and playstyle. The amount of content was also received positively, with four extensive campaigns offering around 30 to 40 hours of gameplay before any DLC is taken into account. Criticism was aimed mainly at the lack of truly original ideas, several technical issues and visuals that were already not quite cutting-edge at launch in 2021. Even so, PC Games awarded the game 8 out of 10 points. The Steam community also paints a positive picture. Age of Empires IV currently has almost 93,000 user reviews, 85% of which are positive. On the Steam Deck, the game is listed as “Playable.” Strategy games are naturally better suited to mouse and keyboard, but Valve’s trackpads make the handheld experience more comfortable than expected.

    • The Anniversary Edition is available on Steam for around $14 instead of $40.
    • The base game includes eight civilizations and four campaigns offering 30-40 hours of gameplay.
    • Steam user reviews are 85% positive out of almost 93,000 reviews.
    • The game is listed as “Playable” on Steam Deck.


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  • Age of Empires IV Jin Dynasty Update Featuring Yue Fei’s Legacy

    Age of Empires IV Jin Dynasty Update Featuring Yue Fei’s Legacy

    Key Takeaway

    1. The Yue Fei’s Legacy expansion introduces a new campaign, civilization (Jin Dynasty), multiplayer maps, and biomes, with content available on multiple platforms and included for Game Pass subscribers.
    2. The campaign follows General Yue Fei during the Song-Jin Wars, highlighting historical events and political intrigue, while the Jin civilization emphasizes cavalry, resource management, and a late-game gunpowder phase.
    3. The expansion features four new maps with two new biomes, a revamped seasonal structure, and ongoing support plans, despite mixed initial reviews regarding its price and scope.

    New Content for Age of Empires IV

    The latest expansion titled Yue Fei’s Legacy was released on May 7, and it’s available on various platforms including Xbox Series X/S, PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store, as well as PS5. This update brings substantial new features, including an eight-mission campaign along with a brand-new civilization that players can control. Additionally, it introduces four multiplayer maps and two fresh biomes. This makes it one of the most significant single updates from World’s Edge since the game’s debut in 2021. For subscribers of Game Pass on PC and Xbox, it’s included at no extra cost, but for others, it costs around $14.99.

    Campaign Storyline and Historical Roots

    The campaign takes players through a gripping story centered around General Yue Fei and Commander Han Shizhong, who are tasked with protecting a young Song prince amidst chaos with the Jin Dynasty. Players will experience scenarios reflecting military clashes and political scheming at the imperial court, which is portrayed as perilous as any battlefield. Yue Fei’s prominence as a Chinese hero adds a layer of authenticity to the campaign, rooted in the real historical events of the 12th-century Song-Jin Wars. His tragic downfall due to corruption is woven into the storyline, giving it a realistic historical touch rather than just fiction.

    New Civilizations and Gameplay Mechanics

    The multiplayer play expands with the introduction of the Jin Dynasty civilization, which joins the existing roster for modes like skirmish, ranked, and Crucible. The Jin focus on three main strategies: utilizing horse grasslands to boost cavalry, sending emissaries to establish Tributaries for resource and military gains, and a late-game gunpowder phase where sieges dominate the scene. Their military units include the Iron Pagoda, mounted grenadiers, eruptors, and Bed crossbows—all specialized units that define their combat style. They also have unique music composed specifically for this expansion, and their own mastery and ranking systems, making the gameplay more diverse and immersive.

    New Maps and Seasonal Content

    Four additional maps are being introduced, each bringing new environmental elements like the Yellow River and Madagascar biomes, featuring grasslands, river valleys, and icy plateaus. Conjoined with the expansion is the Summer Ranked Season, which now aligns with a four-season cycle running three months each. This seasonal structure replaces the previous system, offering fresh competitive dynamics throughout the year. The start of this season coincides with the expansion’s launch, offering players more varied gameplay experiences.

    Reception and Future Plans

    Originally developed by Relic Entertainment, Age of Empires IV has been maintained actively by World’s Edge since its launch. The game has received an average score of 81 on Metacritic. However, early feedback on Yue Fei’s Legacy on Steam appears mixed, with a 51% positive rate from 170 reviews. Critics and players are discussing the expansion’s price and scope compared to earlier DLCs. Meanwhile, World’s Edge has announced future updates and additional content planned for later in 2026, ensuring ongoing support for the game.

    Community Backlash and Industry News

    Recently, a controversy arose surrounding the game Neverness to Everness, where players noticed AI-generated assets, leading to a backlash. The situation gained further attention when VTuber Ironmouse publicly distanced herself from the developer amid accusations of the use of AI-created content, highlighting ongoing concerns within gaming and digital art communities.

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