Microsoft are working with the fantastic team from Relic Entertainment to make this the best Age game yet! Stay tuned for more details, we cannot wait to tell you more.

Get a first look at the Delhi Sultanate civilization, one of many unique civilizations in Age of Empires IV. The Delhi Sultanate is a powerful technology-based civilization with a key advantage in research, and the potential to emerge as a mighty force capable of devastating their opponents.

Mixed in with gameplay of archers firing down from above on castle walls, spearmen engaging in combat, Sultanate Scholars capturing sacred sites and supporting War Elephant assaults

Get a first look at the Normans Campaign – just one of four campaigns available in Age of Empires IV. William of Normandy sets forth on the hard-fought road to conquer England and seize its throne. What follows is an epic story of invasion, anarchy, rebellion, and family conflict – all with the player in command.

Drawing inspiration from gilded manuscripts of the time, the “golden soldiers” project historical events over present-day real-world locations, giving us a realistic sense of place in how events unfolded hundreds of years ago.  It’s very BBC documentary styled-inspired, and it looks great.

The Norman campaign will tell the story of Duke William of Normandy as he wrestles control of England from King Harold, starting at the Battle of Hastings, then later following his descendants Robert, William II, and Henry I as they continue to fight for what would become modern day England. All the classic medieval units were shown here in action, from knights on horseback engaging with pikemen across large fields of battle capped off with a great looking castle siege.

It all looks very epic with many units on the field and the game engine itself displaying well detailed grass on the fields, intricate stone textures on the castle walls, and detailed features of units from their shields, spears, and armor all help to bring an authentic look and feel to this strategy game.

Following that reveal, get an even deeper dive into gameplay in Age of Empires IV, starting off with the High Medieval Ages and a battle between the English and the Delhi Sultanate, as we were about to be guided through the game’s four Ages. It started off showcasing English villagers gathering resources to start building up their Town Center, with scouts hunting deer and villagers collecting meat from sheep. Soon a lone scout comes across an enemy fortification, and from there you can guess what comes next: war. It’s not long until we see spearmen, archers, and more combat-oriented construction developing as the civilizations start to age-up and skirmishes escalate to war as each continues their battle for control of the map.

Get a first look at the Chinese civilization, one of many unique civilizations in Age of Empires IV. The Chinese civilization is immense and resilient, with the potential for tremendous growth and advancement throughout the game. With a strong focus on expanding their empire, they are capable of developing massive armies with their explosive strength.

On the other side of the world, the Feudal Age featured the Mongols and the Chinese civilizations, a great contrast to the castles and knights shown earlier. The Chinese identity is immediately apparent, with unique architecture and costuming, period-accurate language, and military units clad in traditional garb wielding intimidating weaponry.

Contrasting them were the Mongols and the heavy use of tent-like structures, which suits their playstyle and allows them to pack up their entire village and relocate to different sections of the map in search of resources. With their focus on the stone resources and being able to move their entire city at will, many new tactics and strategies become possible.

Speaking of novel strategies, we got a look at the new stealth forest mechanic, which are unique patches of forest that units can hide within to set up ambushes. Sight into and within these forest areas is severely limited, meaning armies could move right past each other and never see the other! You’ll know that your units are in stealth woods by the blue outline around them and their whispered responses.

Next was a preview of The Castle Age, now featuring an advanced Delhi Sultanate and English civilization battle – this was full on War Elephants taking on giant castles, siege towers creeping their way forward, soldiers clashing swords along castle walls… it was all very epic.

Finally, the gameplay video returned to the Imperial Age as the Chinese and Mongols, now with huge epic keeps, multiple unit structures like barracks and stables, and more refined architecture as they prepare for a Mongol invasion. Massive units took to the field of battle, full of trebuchets hurling rocks at the castle walls, soldiers sprinting across the field on horseback, nests of bees volleying explosives, signal fireworks being shot into the air to boost morale, and more.

Capping off all the news were the first details of the upcoming Age of Empires IV closed beta that will be open to Age Insider members who sign up on AgeOfEmpires.com. Age Insiders can also enter a sweepstakes to win a one-of-a-kind Alienware battlestation, featuring a custom-skinned Age of Empires Alienware Aurora R11 Desktop setup, an Alienware 7.1 Gaming Headset, an Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor, and more! The sweepstakes runs through April 24. Click here for more details.

Age of Empires IV is coming to PC (Xbox Game Pass, Windows Store and Steam) in Fall 2021.