Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition celebrates its fifth anniversary by adding three pieces of downloadable content to its standard edition for all purchases going forward.
Although this means that new players automatically get access to the Lords of the West, Dawn of the Dukes, and Dynasties of India DLCs, the price of the game’s base edition has been increased to $34.99 (or your regional equivalent) from its previous $20.
Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition Fifth Anniversary
As publisher Xbox Game Studios explains in a Steam post, the change is meant to provide “a more complete experience to newcomers.”
Existing owners of the standard edition will also receive “any of the three mentioned DLCs that aren’t already in [their] collection.” Details on how to claim them are included in the post linked above.
Also releasing on the game’s fifth anniversary is its newest DLC, Battle for Greece, which adds the Athenian, Spartan, and Achaemenid civilizations, overhauled naval combat, a 21-scenario campaign, and more.
Since its launch in 2019, AoE II: DE has received close to 100 free updates alongside the following additions:
- 7 DLC and 3 animated icons packs
- 10 civilizations to take into skirmish and ranked play
- 17 civilizations in the Return of Rome DLC
- 3 civilizations in the Chronicles: Battle for Greece DLC
- 16 campaigns
- 19 scenarios in Victors & Vanquished
- 21 scenarios in Chronicles: Battle for Greece DLC
- Multiple game modes – Empire Wars, Battle Royale & D3
Saying that Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition breathed new life into a venerated strategy game classic would be an understatement, as indicated by not just the amount of new DLC it received, but also its impressive concurrent player counts, which have routinely peaked at more than 20,000 players each month.
It’s a prime example that a well-executed remaster has the potential to not only do justice to an old, beloved title, but make it reach new heights, even at a time when RTS games aren’t quite in the spotlight.
Whether or not the new deal for the standard edition pays off remains to be seen. Its previous price was more accessible, but the ever-growing number of DLCs could have turned new buyers away.
The newest DLC alone costs as much as the price increase and knowing that you already own three additional content pieces on top of the base game’s already stellar offering might make it easier to jump in and work towards completing your collection further down the line.
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