Ensemble Studios’ classic strategy game is getting a 4K makeover, and a beta later this month.
Way back in 1997, Ensemble Studios released a real-time strategy game that would spawn one of the most beloved franchises in gaming. Age of Empires let you take the reins of armies from Africa, Asia, and Europe, and lead them from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. The game’s Rise of Rome expansions added the Roman Empire to the fray. We’ve seen two sequels, and a remaster of Age of Empires 2, but you couldn’t play the original unless you owned the physical disc. That’s going to change soon.
Microsoft announced this week that it is going to release Age of Empires: Definitive Edition later this year. The remaster is going to include not only updated visuals, but also support for 4K, a re-orchestrated soundtrack, enhanced gameplay and narration, and the Rise of Rome expansion. That means you’ll have 16 civilizations to play as, and 10 campaigns to complete.
While there’s no release date for the remaster, there is a beta program that planned to kick off later this month, if you want to get involved in that, you can sign up over at the official site. Fair warning: signing up requires an Xbox Live account, which means that this remaster could possibly be a Windows Store-only title.
