It is the Year of Age! The beloved franchise is turning 25 this year. And what better way to mark the occasion than by releasing a free update for its latest iteration, Age of Empires IV.
The real-time strategy game launched last year to critical acclaim.
And with the one-year anniversary approaching, the studio behind it is finally ready to unveils a couple of great new civilizations for the title. Ottomans and Malians are the two new entrants to the arena, and both further expand the already diverse offerings in the game with their unique units and abilities.
Before we get any further, let’s rewind a bit.
Relic announced these new arrivals as part of Gamescom 2022.
The company confirmed that the two civilizations will arrive as part of the free Anniversary Update that will go live on October 25 for owners of the game and PC Game Pass subscribers. More information on this massive update could arrive during the Xbox live stream on August 25 during Gamescom.
In the meantime, feast your eyes with this trailer:
From the footage, the Ottomans are shown to have a new type of powerful siege unit, while Janissaries are out and about. There is also a new type of horseback unit that is seems to be playing a drum in a bid to buffy nearby allies.
The Malians, meanwhile, are highlighted by spear throwers that have taken to the battlefield alongside some spear and shield wielders.
Relic has more details on these new additions in its announcement post on the official Age of Empires IV website that you will want to check out.
Speaking of checking out, Microsoft and Relic have put Age of Empires on its deepest sale yet with a 50% discount across Steam and the Microsoft Store. Should drum up a lot of interest, alongside the special offer that has the game available to play for free for a week on Steam.
