Age of Empires IV released on October 28, 2021 for PC. It later arrived on Xbox Series X|S on August 22, 2023. Built by Relic Entertainment with World’s Edge, and published by Xbox Game Studios, it revives large‑scale real‑time strategy with classic build–expand–conquer loops and readable battles. You guide historical factions through sprawling campaigns, fast skirmishes, and ranked play. The tone stays grounded in history, but the presentation is modern: documentary‑style narration, clean unit silhouettes, and tech that scales on mid‑range hardware.
The campaigns lean on set‑piece battles and clear objectives, while multiplayer pushes economy management and map control. Factions play differently, from Mongol mobility and English defense to later additions that bend the meta. Matches reward scouting, short timing windows, and tight positioning more than brute‑force micromanagement. It feels like Age, just quicker.
Standard & Special Editions — what’s included
- Standard Edition: base game.
- Anniversary Edition: current storefront version with all free updates, balance seasons, and the 2023 content refresh.
DLCs
- The Sultans Ascend (Nov 14, 2023): story expansion with a new campaign, plus new civilizations and maps.
- Knights of Cross and Rose (Apr 8, 2025): DLC introducing two playable armies with new mechanics and scenarios.
- Dynasties of the East (Nov 4, 2025): expansion focused on new civs, modes, and seasonal content.
- Digital Deluxe Upgrade Pack (2021): in‑game items, profile goodies, and tracks.
- Official Soundtrack (2021): complete score.
- 4K HDR Video Pack (2021): high‑resolution documentary videos.
Review
AOE 4 keeps the series’ brainy rhythm. Opening minutes are about workers, wood lines, and map reads. Then the first army hits a gold vein or a sacred site and everything swings. Combat resolves cleanly, with animations that show intent and armor classes that make counters obvious. Macro still wins games. If you float resources or forget production, good opponents snowball.
The campaigns are smartly paced and the documentary clips still add charm. Multiplayer is where it sings. Civ identities create distinct game plans without breaking readability, and maps push you to fight for choke points rather than turtle forever. Balance shifts season to season, yet the core loop stays tight.
Caveats are simple. Pathing can clump when armies squeeze through tight gates, and late‑game fights dip on mid‑range rigs during huge population crashes. Newcomers may also bounce off the APM tax until hotkeys click. Stick with it and there’s plenty of room to grow.
Verdict: sharp RTS fundamentals, a healthier meta than at launch, and expansions that actually move the needle.
Age of Empires 4 PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64‑bit or Windows 11 64‑bit | Windows 10 64‑bit or Windows 11 64‑bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5‑6300U or AMD Ryzen 5 2400G, AVX required | Intel Core i5‑8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Intel HD 520 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 570 (4 GB VRAM) |
| Storage | 50 GB available space | 50 GB available space |
