Age of Empires Continues to Expand with New Content and Platforms
The first half of 2025 has been a busy one for World's Edge and the entire Age of Empires franchise. The developers are celebrating record launches, new platform releases, and high community engagement, with the series now boasting over 65 million players. And they are far from done.
Major Highlights So Far
World's Edge has released three significant expansions recently:
- Immortal Pillars for Age of Mythology: Retold: This DLC introduced the Chinese Pantheon, a new campaign, and seven maps.
- Knights of Cross and Rose for Age of Empires IV: Players gained access to the Templars and the House of Lancaster, along with ten new maps and a fresh game mode.
- The Three Kingdoms for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition: This expansion added five new civilizations and three campaigns.
Furthermore, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Mythology: Retold launched on PlayStation 5, significantly broadening the series' audience.
In a unique collaboration, the team also partnered with the Louvre Museum on a project about the Mamluk era, marking the first time the museum has worked with a gaming studio in this way. Developers promise an even bigger second half of the year, thanking players for their continued support.
Upcoming DLC for Age of Mythology: Retold
The "Heavenly Spear" DLC for Age of Mythology: Retold is set to launch on September 30. This marks a first for the series, introducing Japanese mythology, a new pantheon, a 12-mission story campaign, and unique mythical abilities. Pre-orders for Heavenly Spear are currently available with a 15% discount for a limited time. Owners of the premium edition of Age of Mythology: Retold will automatically receive access to this new content. Attendees of the upcoming Gamescom event will also have the chance to play Heavenly Spear early at the World's Edge booth.
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition's Continued Success
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has also seen significant activity in 2025. Spring brought its largest-ever update, featuring major balance changes, new units, revamped regional visuals, and new maps. Following its PlayStation 5 release in May, the "The Three Kingdoms" expansion launched, becoming the fastest-selling expansion in the Definitive Edition's history. Developers have also hinted at another expansion coming later this year, with a full announcement expected soon.
Experimental Changes in Age of Empires IV
Back in February, developers promised two expansions for Age of Empires IV this year. One has already been released, and the second is planned for Autumn 2025. This upcoming expansion will not only expand on existing mechanics but also introduce an experimental mode that blends elements from other genres with the classic gameplay. "Knights of Cross and Rose" already introduced the "Historical Battles" mode, which combined narrative missions with a point and level system that rewarded exploration. The autumn expansion aims to push these ideas further. More details are being kept under wraps for now, but developers suggest keeping an eye on Age of Empires news during Gamescom.
Age of Empires Mobile Coming to PC
Since its October 2024 release, Age of Empires Mobile has seen millions of players building cities and engaging in alliance battles. Now, a PC version is in the works: Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition. This version will offer the same dynamic gameplay with PC-specific improvements like mouse and keyboard support, an adapted interface, 4K resolution, and integration with Steam and Xbox Live. More details are coming soon, with Gamescom attendees getting an early look at the Age of Empires booth.
Growing Esports Scene
The competitive Age of Empires scene continues to thrive in 2025, with over $200,000 awarded in S-tier tournaments during the first half of the year alone. More competitions are planned, including LAN events in Germany and China. Developers thank players and organizers, encouraging fans to follow the official events calendar for future tournaments.
World's Edge states that this is just a preview of what's to come for Age of Empires and Age of Mythology in the latter half of the year. With many more announcements on the horizon, the team hopes players will continue to enjoy their time with World's Edge's strategy titles.
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