According to new information, Age of Empires 4 Xbox Game Studios could come to Xbox consoles, ending the franchise’s two decades of exclusivity on PC. The real-time strategy game has been available on PC since the launch of the first Age of Empires in 1997. Since then, Xbox Game Studios has released three more sequels to the franchise, culminating in the 2021 release of Age of Empires 4. The game received a modest reception across the board, having managed to combine nostalgia with modernization.
Age of Empires 4 is set in the High Middle Ages and allows players to command one of eight civilizations. The Abbasid dynasty, the Holy Roman Empire, the Mongols, and the Rus, among others, each have a unique set of units, landmarks, and buildings. Players must take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of their chosen civilization to outwit and outmaneuver their opponents. Although victory conditions vary depending on the game mode, Age of Empires 4 focuses heavily on militarization, in which players must eliminate their rivals while developing their own civilization. There are a myriad of strategies to employ in the game, and its complex gameplay mechanics have made the latest Age of Empires one of the best RTS games of 2021. The complex mechanics are part of the reason why the Age franchise of Empires has remained on PC, allowing fluid control over strategy, tactics, and a growing empire.
According to Twitter user Aggiornamenti Lumia, Age of Empires 4 it could come to Xbox consoles. The dataminer, which focuses on Microsoft code, discovered a number of code names on the Insider Hub for Microsoft products. In his search, Aggiornamenti Lumia would have found “XIP_CAR_JANUARY_2022”, where “CAR” seems to mean “Cardinal”, Microsoft’s codename for Age of Empires 4. The data analyst also guessed that “XIP” stands for “Xbox Insider Preview” , which could mean that an Xbox port for Age of Empires 4 is currently in testing. It’s important to exercise caution when it comes to datamines and leaks, as Xbox Game Studios has yet to confirm the Xbox port.
At last year’s E3 showcase, Microsoft announced that the longtime PC-exclusive Microsoft Flight Simulator game would be coming to Xbox consoles. The Xbox Series X | S port launched a month later, bringing new pilots to the respected flight simulator game. Considering the success of Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox consoles, it seems appropriate that Microsoft would try a similar tactic with Age of Empires 4. Although the RTS franchise has a long history on PC, Xbox consoles can offer a broader player base. It’s unclear if an Xbox port would require simplified gameplay mechanics, although Civilization 6 and other massive strategy games have performed well on consoles despite their complexity.
If the Aggiornamenti Lumia data is reliable, the reveal could come soon and the official release date not long after. With internal testing seemingly taking place in January 2022, the full launch could be less than a year away. However, until Xbox Game Studios confirms the port for Xbox, the latest game in the influential series. Age of EmpiresLike its predecessors, it remains a PC exclusive.