Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a real-time strategy video game developed by Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires and published by Xbox Game Studios.[1] It is a remaster of the 2005 game Age of Empires III, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the original. It features improved visuals, a remastered soundtrack, two new game modes, and four new civilizations, plus African and Mediterranean-themed downloadable content as of June 2022. The Mediterranean expansion introduces the Italians as a playable civilization, which was planned for the original version of the game but did not appear. It includes all previous expansions from the original game. It was released on October 15, 2020 for Windows.[2]

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Xbox Game Studios
Director(s)Adam Isgreen
Composer(s)Stephen Rippy
SeriesAge of Empires
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseOctober 15, 2020
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay
Gameplay of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

The core gameplay elements are shared heavily with the original, but Definitive Edition builds upon it. The remaster includes new 4K Ultra HD graphics, rebuilt 3D assets, improved destruction animations on buildings, a spectator mode, an overhauled and scalable UI, mod support, new server-based online multiplayer with cross-network play, new maps, and remastered sounds and music. It features two new civilizations, the Incas and the Swedes, along with two new game modes, The Art of War and Historical Battles. It includes all previous expansions from the original game (The WarChiefs, The Asian Dynasties).[2][3][1]

The AI was improved, and a new "extreme" difficulty level was added. The number of cheats AI uses in the original game was reduced. The new AI can micromanage now, it is better at picking units, reading the map, reading its opponent's army, making well-rounded army compositions, retreating from lost battles, and hit-and-run tactics on the highest levels.[4][3]

Expansions

An expansion pack adding the United States civilization was announced on April 10, 2021 and released on April 13, 2021. For a limited time, players could unlock it for free by completing 50 challenges, each themed around a US state.[5][6]

A second expansion pack, The African Royals, was announced on July 20, 2021 and released on August 2, 2021. The African Royals expansion adds two new civilizations, the Ethiopians and the Hausa, as well as three new Historical Battles, 15 new African maps, 5 new indigenous African civilizations to ally with, and 11 new achievements.[7][8]

An expansion pack adding the Mexico civilization was announced on November 22, 2021 and released on December 1, 2021. In addition to the new civilization, several historical battle scenarios were added to the game centered around both the Mexican civilization and the United States civilization, as well as 10 new achievements and additional content for the American civilization.[9][10]

Another expansion pack, Knights of the Mediterranean, was announced on May 12, 2022 and released on May 26, 2022, adding both Italian and Maltese (Knights Hospitaller) civilizations.[11] It also added 30 new random maps, 9 new minor civilizations called Royal Houses, 8 historical maps, two new game modes (Diplomacy and Tycoon) and 25 new achievements.

Release

On August 21, 2017, at Gamescom, Microsoft announced Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition.[12] On August 20, 2019, Microsoft announced Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition was in development by Tantalus Media.[13]

On January 23, 2020, Microsoft announced that the closed beta would begin in early February. Each beta session will include a small piece of the game. Larger closed beta sessions will be dedicated to multiplayer and matchmaking. Campaign beta sessions will be limited to a very small group of players and only certain missions.[14] The first closed beta session began on February 11, 2020, and ended on February 19, 2020.[15][16] The second closed multiplayer session began on March 31 and ran through April 7, 2020.[17]

On August 27, 2020, Microsoft revealed the announce trailer at Gamescom.[18] The game was released on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox Game Pass on October 15, 2020.[19][1]

Reception

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic with a score of 75/100 from 46 reviews.[20] Windows Central's Samuel Tolbert praised the new graphics and campaign changes but criticized the AI path finding.[25]

References
  1. "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  2. Isgreen, Adam (August 27, 2020). "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Launching October 15th, Pre-Order Now". Xbox Wire. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  3. Forgotten Empires. "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition". Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. Talbot, Carrie (September 11, 2020). "Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition – no other RTS "does what it does"". Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  5. Hunt, Cale (April 10, 2021). "Age of Empires 2 and 3 Definitive Editions are getting new content this year". Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  6. Age DE Team (April 13, 2021). "Introducing: the United States Civ, new to Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition!". Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  7. "Age of Empires 3's Africa-themed expansion drops next month". PCGamesN. July 21, 2021. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  8. "AVAILABLE NOW – Age of Empires III: DE – The African Royals". www.ageofempires.com. August 2, 2021. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  9. Age DE Team (December 1, 2021). "Introducing: the Mexico Civilization, new to Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition!". Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  10. Age DE Team (November 30, 2021). "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition — Update 54545". Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  11. "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition – Knights of the Mediterranean". Age of Empires. May 13, 2022. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  12. Knezevic, Kevin (August 21, 2017). "Age Of Empires 2 And 3 Remasters Announced". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  13. "Gamescom 2019 - Microsoft's new Age of Empires arm isn't a developer, firm overseeing other studios working on IP". PC Games Insider. August 20, 2019. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  14. Bailey, Dustin (January 23, 2020). "The Age of Empires 3 Definitive Edition beta starts in February". pcgamesn.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  15. @AgeOfEmpires (February 11, 2020). "🏹 #AoE3DE: Incoming, Insiders! First round of invites are out now—sign up as an Insider and keep that profile updated if you'd like your chance at joining our beta! ageofempires.com/insiders" (Tweet) – via Twitter..
  16. Licidy (February 19, 2020). "Uninstalling the Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Beta". Archived from the original on March 24, 2020.
  17. @AgeOfEmpires (March 31, 2020). "Prepare your stations: #AoE3DE Beta keys are out! Good luck to you all and remember: check your spam just in case, brush up on the NDA and leave your feedback on the Beta forums. We're counting on you! ⚔️ For a chance at this and other Beta opportunities: ageofempires.com/insiders!" (Tweet) – via Twitter..
  18. Mobley, Joshua (August 27, 2020). "Age of Empires III: Definitive Trailer". gamespot.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. Boddy, Zachary (August 27, 2020). "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition joins Xbox Game Pass for PC October 15, pre-order now". windowscentral.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  20. "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  21. "Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition". GameStar (in German). Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  22. Bolding, Jon (October 21, 2020). "Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  23. Zak, Robert (October 16, 2020). "Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  24. Mojola, Renata (October 14, 2020). "Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition review – definitely definitive". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  25. "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Review — Revolutionizing for a solid new experience". Windows Central. October 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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