patchAug 15, 2026
Age of Empires Franchise Reviews a Busy 2026 and Teases What Comes Next
The Age of Empires franchise has had a dense first half of 2026, touching nearly every title in the series with new content, new platforms, and live events.
What changed
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition received The Last Chieftains, bringing three new civilizations and three new campaigns set in South America. The game also arrived on macOS via Steam in May, published in partnership with Feral Interactive — more than six years after its original launch.
- Age of Mythology: Retold expanded through its Expansion Pass, delivering the Demeter Gods Pack, Ultimate Fan Pack, Blood & Bones Pack, and Obsidian Mirror, which introduced the Aztecs.
- Age of Empires IV received Yue Fei's Legacy, a new campaign centered on the Song Dynasty's conflict with Jin Dynasty invaders — described as the first new campaign since Sultans Ascend — alongside new challenges.
- The Red Bull Wololo: Londinium event took place in London and was described as record-breaking by the team.
- A forthcoming Age of Empires IV expansion, Raiders of the North, received its first public reveal during the 2026 Xbox Showcase; the source text indicates a Viking or northern setting but was cut off before further detail was provided.
For players, the half-year summary signals that the franchise's oldest modern entry continues to find new audiences while its newer titles push into fresh historical territory.