FAQ - Your Questions Answered

[Citrode]

Q: What are the 4 new civilisations?
A: Lithuanians - Cumans - Tatars - Bulgarians

Q: Where is Age of Empires 4?
A: It's coming. Don't worry

Q: Will all the expansions be included in this game?
A: Yes - It will also be significantly cheaper

AOE 2 HD + Expansions: $19.99 + $9.99 + $9.99 + $9.99 = $49.96
AOE 2 DE = (New Players) $19.99 (HD Owners) $14.99

Q: What does the definitive edition bring?
A:

1. Improved Graphics & 4k
2. 4 New Civilisations
3. 3 New Campaigns
4. Automatic Farm Reseeding & Other QOL Updates
5. Real-Time Spectator Mode
6. Tournaments

Q: Will it have dedicated servers?
A: Highly likely. Look at Tournaments & Spectator Mode

Q: Will it have Steam Workshop?
A: Highly likely. The developers of Definitive Edition are the same ones as HD edition. They won't make any critical mistakes and they know mod support is high in demand.

Q: Will it continue to update?
A: Yes. Look at QOL Updates.

Q: Will it have crossover multiplayer with HD edition?
A: I don't know, but since the developers are the same, they could work something out in the future, even though I doubt it myself that this will be available at launch.

Q: Can you switch to classic graphics mode?
A: I doubt it. They have redesigned a lot of buildings and added a lot of new graphical content such as new buildings, units and environments. The trailer did not display such feature. I will be leaning towards a no.

Q: What will happen to HD edition?
A: It's very likely that you will be given an option to upgrade your game. I've seen plenty of MMOs on Steam have an upgrade to Deluxe Edition option. In which case it's very likely you'll keep all your saves and everything else.

HD edition and all of it's expansions will most likely be removed from the store but if you already have the game you will still be able to play the HD version from your library, with the option to upgrading to DE always being available. If you have the HD version and you want to buy the expansion packs, upgrading to DE is much cheaper and could be the option.

Q: Do I need Windows 10 to play it?
A: Yes you do. It's best that you upgrade to Windows 10 before 2020 if you have Windows 7 for all latest security measures. The upgrade to Windows 10 is free.

Q: What about graphics mods such as small trees? How will that work with DE?
A: I'm not an expert in the modding field but graphical mods might have to be reworked if DE does not have an option for classic graphics. Even if they 100% work with DE perfectly, they will still look out of place with all the newly added graphics such as buildings and new units and decorations. This means that the modders will have to update those new graphics as well

Q: Will it be a buggy mess on release?
A: Doubtful. There's a beta that you can sign up for and that's what it's for. I don't actually remember if the first DE had a beta. The playerbase on Steam is very active with reporting bugs so it should go a lot smoother.

Q: Why pay for the same game again?
A: This is the Definitive Edition. This means this is the final stop. If we're getting anymore updates to this game, it could be mainly expansion DLCs. It's also a lot cheaper than buying HD and all expansions together as stated previously. Upgrading to DE costs $14.99 for HD users. This is the price for

1. Improved Graphics & 4k
2. 4 New Civilisations
3. 3 New Campaigns
4. Automatic Farm Reseeding & Other QOL Updates
5. Real-Time Spectator Mode
6. Tournaments

We might also get a zoom out. I'm also assuming that with this new engine they are able to add a lot of things that couldn't previously be added.

I would like to be corrected if any of these questions are wrongly answered and I'll edit the post with the corrections.

[Puntolory]

Have an internet cookie for a good post detailing what we know.

My only reservation is that I think there is going to be no compatibility with HD whatsoever, since Definitive Edition multiplayer will work with Xbox Live (unlike HD which is a steamworks game). The good news is that crossplay with Microsoft Store/W10 users will be possible, though I guess that's more interesting for AoE1's Definitive Edition considering the playerbase that already bought the game on the Microsoft Store.

Bugs, lags and technical problems may also be a problem. AoE1 Definitive Edition was a bit of a mess at launch, and that game got delayed by a few months and got a beta as well. The game got better with time but alas, we don't know how AoE2DE will fare in comparison... My only hope is that they've learned from their past mistakes, but we shall see.

[Corrin]

"Q: Do I need Windows 10 to play it?
A: Yes you do."

Haha they must not want people to buy it. I'd maybe change "upgrade" to "update" regarding windows 10 also. Yeah its more up to date, but worse in every other way.

[TreeLittleBirds]

Regarding cross play between HD and DE they should be immediately clear from the start. That's my advise. I say no to it because HD edition is meant for running on older hardware. Also the brand new The Last Khans content including the four new civs should be made available for the HD edition. So I don't see cross play between HD and DE happening in the future either.

Nice roundup btw.

[Пустельга]

Any news about Age of Empires III DE though?

[Citrode]

We probably will not hear about that until DE2 is released due to hype building.

[Battlefield 6 Medic Character]

so Windows 10 is a must to play a video game?

wishlist canceled

Windows 10 is the most disgusting OS ever they done and every update they add more crap to
registry,Task schedular and Services which cannot be deleted or disabled even though I'm admin of my computer.

How mighty have fallen.

[Citrode]

Unfortunately, 8 and 10 will be our only options for 2020 unless you want to take risks with security.

[Battlefield 6 Medic Character]

Originally posted by Citrode:

Unfortunately, 8 and 10 will be our only options for 2020 unless you want to take risks with security.

My father used Windows XP SP3 on his laptop forever with Internet on and never got any problems and he didnt even used to any anti-virus software. He is still using that old crappy
Dell Latitude and works perfectly fine.

Security updates is a huge lie, if you know how to use a computer and having common sense
then u are completely fine.

Out of support doesnt mean your computer automatically stops working. You can use a computer
for years if you know what you doing on Internet.

Microsoft uses that "security patch" excuse on public to convert people to switch Windows 10.

[My1]

Originally posted by Citrode:

Unfortunately, 8 and 10 will be our only options for 2020 unless you want to take risks with security.

but at least 8.1 can be a very good OS after a bit of modding. and unless there is a REAL need to use w10 and not just MS BS-ing everyone for no reason at all, well this would be ugly.

I mean this game according to the sys requirements doesnt even use DX12.

[My1]

Originally posted by DeltaForce C:/System32:

Originally posted by Citrode:

Unfortunately, 8 and 10 will be our only options for 2020 unless you want to take risks with security.

My father used Windows XP SP3 on his laptop forever with Internet on and never got any problems and he didnt even used to any anti-virus software. He is still using that old crappy
Dell Latitude and works perfectly fine.

as long as he is VERY careful and hopefully doesnt do online banking on it, fine, but do remember that the danger is there

Security updates is a huge lie, if you know how to use a computer and having common sense
then u are completely fine.

Out of support doesnt mean your computer automatically stops working. You can use a computer
for years if you know what you doing on Internet.

remember wannacry, this was so bad that MS patched for XP iirc even after XP went EOL, and it infected a LOT, I mean for example the digital time displays at a train station where I was had a wannacry screen on it, just to give you a perspective.

sure if you know VERY well what you are doing on your internet and have a firewall set to a high security Level you can probably use a machine without getting infected right off the bat, granted, but it certainly is not recommended.

Microsoft uses that "security patch" excuse on public to convert people to switch Windows 10.

well fixing a ssystem that is over 10 years old is probably not Ideal when you have brought 2 major releases later already (aka win8 and 10) although one thing MS imo REALLY should do would be making a windows that actually fgives you options instead of taking them.

also they did even more MS like for example that whole thing where newer hardware would be denied updates unless on w10 and stuff which especially for win8.1 users is somewhere between cruel and outright disgusting as it also affected Ryzen 1st gen systems which were well within the Mainstream support cycle of 8.1.

[Tempires]

Originally posted by DeltaForce C:/System32:

so Windows 10 is a must to play a video game?

wishlist canceled

Windows 10 is the most disgusting OS ever they done and every update they add more crap to
registry,Task schedular and Services which cannot be deleted or disabled even though I'm admin of my computer.

How mighty have fallen.

Having support for +10 years old Os's cost a lot. Also in terms of technology it doesn't make any sense to keep support.

[Citrode]

I think that AOE 2 DE has no reason to not support older systems such as Windows 7. There are so many games out there on Steam that do not require this.

[Battlefield 6 Medic Character]

Originally posted by Tempires:

Originally posted by DeltaForce C:/System32:

so Windows 10 is a must to play a video game?

wishlist canceled

Windows 10 is the most disgusting OS ever they done and every update they add more crap to
registry,Task schedular and Services which cannot be deleted or disabled even though I'm admin of my computer.

How mighty have fallen.

Having support for +10 years old Os's cost a lot. Also in terms of technology it doesn't make any sense to keep support.

Still doesn't change the fact that Windows 10 is basically free spyware OS. There is a massive level for collecting info on tech products and Microsoft doing that max on Windows 10.

Remember Bill Gates's notes on his foundation site, even he admitted and left "signs" on his note that Windows 10 could be a problem for MS's future and new CEO not doing well.

When a multi-millionner admits he left his own company for good you should be scared.

[Armored Baron]

Will there be an Age of Mythology Definitive Edition as well?

Also would it be cheaper for me to buy HD and then upgrade to DE or just wait to buy DE on it's own?

[Citrode]

It depends if the sale for HD will be cheaper than $5 I guess.