The original Age of Empires may have debuted over 20 years ago, but interest is still high as to when and if the fourth installment will release. While there’s been no official word on when the highly anticipated game will debut, some rumors suggest that it may be sooner rather than later.
Windows initially released an announcement trailer for Age of Empires 4 on their YouTube page all the way back in 2017, confirming the game was underway. The trailer included a series of concept art from previous games in the franchise as well as a voiceover, but it provided barely any details as to what players can expect from the future installment. Similarly, a 2019 gameplay reveal provided a bit more insight, showing an English city being attacked by invaders, confirming the game will be set in medieval times. Since then, however, there has been very little official news about Age of Empires 4, or why it’s taking so long to develop.
Despite the lack of news, there’s still a chance the game could debut sometime in late 2020, new Xbox Series X, or both. Either way, a 2020 release is still possible, especially if the developers hope to capitalize on the holiday market as well as the hype surrounding the release of the new Xbox. At the same time, however, some reports have suggested players could have to wait several more years. A series of rumors launched by Twitter @h0x0d involving a code name “Indus,” which some have come to believe is a reference to Age of Empire 4, suggest it will arrive by 2022, Windows Central reports. However, it remains unconfirmed if Indus actually is a reference to the game or another title set to come out in 2022, or nothing at all.
What To Expect From Age of Empires 4’s Gameplay
Given that the release date is unknown at this point, it’s not surprising that there is very little known about what Age of Empires 4's gameplay will be like, and how it will compare to the Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition. Thankfully, players can infer certain aspects based on what previous games in the series have been like. Players will likely lead a historical nation or civilization to wealth and victory by collecting resources, building new structures and technologies, battling to dominate other surrounding civilizations, and advancing through the ages. Players can likely expect new and improved civilizations to choose from in addition to new gameplay features.
Though Age of Empires is known for its large story campaigns, it’s been confirmed the new installment will feature smaller games that players can complete in a timelier fashion. “I would say, classically being an Age of Empires game, I think how we would address is, you can still have that game that goes two hours if you really want to,” Adam Isgreen told PCGamesN about the game’s length and pacing. “But because we recognize that people have more modern sensibilities, I think that we’re looking into all these different kinds of game modes, and ways that the game can be played and explored.”
There’s clearly a lot to look forward to when it comes to Age of Empires 4, but based on the fact that it may not come out for another couple of years, fans of the franchise are going to just have to sit tight and wait.
Sources: Windows Central, PCGamesN
