Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition's anniversary update brings a ton of new content and balancing

Game Update 42848 (equally it's officially known) is Historic period of Empires 2: Definitive Edition's 21st update since its release a year ago. It'due south articulate the developers care securely about this game, which anyone who has played it steadily for the past twelvemonth can adjure. In-game events, new maps, new missions, new rewards, AI tweaks, matchmaking fixes, and more have been added to the game since its release.

And now, with the anniversary update, it'south clear the game isn't slowing down someday soon. Perhaps most enticing is the new Historic period of Empires 2 accept on Battle Royale. First shown off in a weekend tournament (won by Historic period of Empires 2 caster and farming genius T90Official), this should prove to be a popular game mode for anyone who wants a quick, anarchistic match. Eight players engage in a free-for-all boxing beyond 5 unlike maps that continuously compress down until at that place's zilch left only carnage and a victor.

The new Quickplay menu helps become into Battle Royale games equally fast as possible, and information technology's too bachelor for Random Map and Empire Wars game modes. Information technology's all part of a major UI update that makes it easier than ever to choose a game manner, pick a civilisation based on its strengths and weaknesses, and start playing. Multiplayer rules for some game modes accept as well been tweaked.

Bringing balance to the ages

It appears a lot of work has gone into this update in terms of balancing gameplay. A real-time strategy (RTS) game with this many maps and civilizations is no doubt tough to perfect, so it's good to meet constant improvements.

Some highlights from the update include palisade wall build time existence increased and wall foundation armor being removed. This should milkshake up the quick-wall meta we and then often run across amidst pro players. Out of the 35 civilizations, 19 have had units and techs tweaked, whether to make them more viable or to nerf some overpowered features. Maps have also seen a ton of balancing changes, with everything from resources generation to unit placement.

Along with stability tweaks and functioning upgrades — peculiarly for late-game mass-unit mayhem — AI has been improved to put upwardly a better fight against those who adopt playing offline. On the flip side, pathfinding (a forever enemy of the RTS) has been adapted and some bugs take been squashed.

A far longer list of patch notes is bachelor at the official Age of Empires website, including in-depth information well-nigh the changes in the ceremony update.

Anniversary event explosions

Up until December 1, an anniversary event has Age of Empires ii: DE in a festive mood. Forth with four new birthday-themed profile avatars to unlock, there are new Town Middle birthday streamers and confetti explosions for enquiry or age advancements. If that'due south not enough, Petards, Demo Ships, and Flaming Camels can accept fireworks attached to them for extra blast.

These additions are available to unlock, merely only for a limited fourth dimension (you tin can keep the unlocks post-obit the event equally long as you sign in with your Xbox Live account). To unlock, you'll have to test out some of the new features, including playing a Boxing Royale match and using the revamped Quickplay feature.

An RTS for the ages

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

A lot of game for the asking price

Historic period of Empires II: Definitive Edition manages to make the classic RTS feel new while not straying away from what made the game cracking in the first place.

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