Better late than never.
If you were eagerly anticipating the release of the new Age of Empires this year, you’re in for some bad news. Microsoft has just announced that Age of Empires: Definitive Edition will not become available until 2018. This will be an “early” 2018 release, mind you, but there’s no exact date available at the time of writing. It’s also worth noting that this won’t just be a regular remaster of the old game. Apparently, Microsoft wants to provide an experience that’s “not as it *actually* was but as we all remember it.” If the developers just need more time in order to make it right, that’s fine by me. However, not all gamers might feel the same.
“The challenge of re-releasing a classic is just that: it’s a classic and it deserves to be treated with careful reverence. At the same time, in a living, thriving genre, norms continually evolve, technology advances and player expectations change. This is as true for RTS as for any other genre. So, the challenge is to recreate the experience, not as it *actually* was but as we all remember it.”
The game will receive a closed beta phase.
Before the official launch, thousands of players will be able to test out the game as part of its closed beta. This phase will be crucial for the single-player campaign, but also for the multiplayer experience. As far as visuals are concerned, the game will offer new zoom levels, as well as 4K support. Other highlights include a remastered soundtrack and a better gameplay experience.
Sadly, the title won’t become available on GOG or Steam, at least not that we know of. The plan is to release it as a Windows Store exclusive.
