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The game's main menu theme

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a remaster of Age of Empires III and its expansions. It features graphical upgrades, UI improvements, quality of life, gameplay changes, new game modes and two new civilizations.[3] Announced at Gamescom 2017, the first closed beta began on February 11, 2020,[4] and it was released on October 15, 2020.

On April 10, 2021, a new playable United States civilization was announced. Released on April 13, it could be earned for free by completing fifty in-game challenges. It can now only be purchased.[5]

On July 20, 2021, a new expansion was announced, The African Royals. With a setting based on Africa, featuring Ethiopians and Hausa, three new Historical Battles, 15 new African maps, and five new African native settlements and new achievements, it was released on August 2, 2021.[6]

On September 14, 2021, the Mexican civilization was announced, also featuring also three new Historical Battles and new achievements, and released on December 1, 2021.[7]

On March 15, 2022, new civilizations were announced to be coming. On May 12, 2022, the new expansion Knights of the Mediterranean was announced. Featuring Italians and Maltese, 30 new random maps, 9 new minor civilizations (Royal Houses), 8 historical maps, two new game modes (Diplomacy and Tycoon) and 25 new achievements, it was released on May 26, 2022.

On January 31, 2024, it was announced that a new expansion with new civilizations is in the works.[8] On February 23, 2024, the flags of two new civilizations were revealed.[9] The flags are the royal banner of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during 1605-1668 and the flag of Denmark in use since 1748. The expansion is scheduled to be released in late 2024.

Demo version[]

Starting August 2, 2023, a demo version of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is available on Steam,[10] with the following features:

This will have no direct effect on the players who already own the game. Quoting the blog, this will be the chance to invite friends and new players to try it out!

New features and changes[]

  • See the initial baseline changelog from here.[11]
  • Ability to rotate building placements (Shift + mouse scroll) outside the Scenario Editor
  • Auto Scout feature added for Explorer units
  • Enhanced AI
  • Enhanced graphics and particle effects[12]
    • Engine updated to DirectX 11
    • Rebuilt 3D assets[13]
    • Ultrawide resolution support[14]
    • Updated camera system
  • Expansions to the Politician system and Revolution mechanic, with more variants for each original civilization including non-American states.
  • Fully remastered soundtrack
    • A new music tune for each civilization[15]
  • Home City Card changes:
    • All cards unlocked in multiplayer and singleplayer (apart from campaign Home Cities)
    • All decks at 25 card limit, with pre-built decks available for new players.
    • Leveling only affects Home City customization.
    • Addition of new cards such as Grenade Launchers.
    • Updated mechanics and abilities to pre-existing cards such as Sawmills granting a 10% yield bonus to villagers gathering from trees.
  • Multiples of the same civilization allowed for both Skirmish and multiplayer matches
  • Name changes:
  • New customizable user interface
    • Default, Definitive, and Classic options
    • Grid-based hotkeys
    • Right-click mouse scroll
  • New game modes
  • Official mod support via a download hub located on the Age of Empires website
  • Overhauled online multiplayer with cross-network play
    • Dedicated servers
    • ELO rating and matchmaking systems
    • Ranked ladders and integrated leaderboards
  • 23 new maps[16]
  • Range indicators for buildings with attack
  • Redesigned flags for most existing civilizations[16]
  • Redesigned Iroquois and Sioux[17][18]
  • Spectator mode
  • Story changes to the The WarChiefs campaign of Act II: Shadow
  • Team limit increased from two to four[16]
  • Two new playable civilizations:
  • Unit formations added for military ships

Non-gameplay content[]

  • On October 18, 2022, hero cosmetic packs were released featuring new skins for certain civilizations' explorer units (Explorer, Monk, War Chief, Ras, Emir, Grand Master, and General).
    • Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition ā€“ Hero Cosmetic Pack ā€“ Lizzie: Adds the Lizzie skin for the British Explorer.
    • Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition ā€“ Hero Cosmetic Pack ā€“ Kunoichi: Adds a female Ninja-like skin for the Japanese Explorer. The unit still uses male voice lines when using abilities.
    • Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition ā€“ Hero Cosmetic Pack ā€“ Vol. 1: Adds more explorer skins.
  • The game was made "free-to-play" on August 2, 2023. The content in this free trial mode is restricted and changed on a regular basis. It consists of three playable civilizations which are rotated periodically, eight maps (four American and four Asian maps), and unlocks the single-player content Act I: Blood campaign and Algiers historical battle.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

References[]

Sources[]

Age of Empires
Main series
ReturnRome-AoEIcon Age of EmpiresRomeIcon The Rise of Rome
Age of Empires Definitive Edition icon Definitive Edition
AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome
AoE2-DLCicon-0 Age of Empires IIAoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors
Aoe2 hb HD Edition: AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten Ā· AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms Ā· AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas
AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition (AoE2-DLCicon-5 The Last Khans) : AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West Ā· Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes Ā· AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India Ā· AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome Ā· AoE2Icon-MountainRoyals The Mountain Royals Ā· Aoe2 hb Victors and Vanquished
Aom original icon Age of MythologyAoM The Titans icon The Titans
AoM Extended icon Extended Edition: AoM Extended icon Tale of the Dragon
AoMIcon-Retold Retold
3Icon48px Age of Empires III3WCIcon48px The WarChiefs Ā· 3ADIcon48px The Asian Dynasties
Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition: AoE3 USA DLC USA DLC Ā· Age3DE Icon The African Royals Ā· AoE3 Mexico DLC Mexican DLC Ā· Age3DE Icon Knights of the Mediterranean
GameIcon-AoE4 Age of Empires IVAnniversary Edition Ā· The Sultans Ascend
Other games
Age of Empires Online Ā· Age of Empires: Castle Siege
HandheldAge of Empires: The Age of Kings Ā· Age of Empires: Mythologies
MobileAge of Empires II Mobile (Deluxe) Ā· Age of Empires III Mobile Ā· Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Mobile Ā· Age of Empires: World Domination Ā· Age of Empires Mobile
TabletopAge of Empires: Expandable Card Game Ā· Age of Mythology: The Boardgame Ā· Glenn Drover's Empires: The Age of Discovery
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