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About Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition marks a year of the franchise with added content and visual upgrades, delivering real‑time strategy across 4K landscapes on Windows. The edition keeps core empire‑building and combat while expanding historical breadth.
Players can explore four campaigns, engage in online multiplayer, and experiment with a beta Mod Editor. Full controller support and a tutorial system aim to welcome newcomers and challenge veterans.
01 / THE GUIDE
New Civilizations
The edition adds the Malians, a West African trading power whose gameplay centers on gold mining and economic investment, encouraging strong resource generation early in a match.
It also introduces the Ottoman civilization, noted for a well‑trained military and the Great Bombards—the largest gunpowder siege weapons in the game, useful for breaking fortified positions.
- Focus early gold collection with the Malians to fund upgrades.
- Deploy Great Bombards against enemy fortifications for maximum impact.
02 / THE GUIDE
Campaign Structure
Four distinct campaigns contain 35 missions that span roughly 500 years, from the Dark Ages through the Renaissance, featuring civilizations such as the English, Chinese, and Delhi Sultanate.
Historical figures like Joan of Arc and Genghis Khan appear, and each decision made by the player influences the outcome of the narrative within those missions.
- Follow early mission tutorials to grasp core mechanics.
- Adapt strategies to each civilization’s strengths as the campaign progresses.
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Multiplayer Modes
Online play supports both PvP and PvE matches for up to eight participants, including ranked seasons that track performance and cooperative modes that let friends team up.
Cross‑platform multiplayer works between Windows users, and the game includes Steam achievements and full controller support for varied input preferences.
- Try ranked PvP to gauge skill against the broader community.
- Use cooperative PvE to practice strategies before competitive play.
04 / THE GUIDE
Mod Editor (Beta)
A beta Mod Editor provides creator tools for custom skirmish and multiplayer maps, mission scenarios, and data‑driven tuning packs, allowing players to shape new gameplay experiences.
These tools let users sculpt terrain, place resources, and define unit balances, expanding the game’s replayability beyond the built‑in content.
- Start with simple terrain edits before building full scenarios.
- Test maps in private matches to verify balance.
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Accessibility Features
A tutorial system teaches the fundamentals of real‑time strategy, while Campaign Story Mode assists first‑time players with setup and guidance toward early success.
Veteran players encounter new mechanics, evolved strategies, and combat techniques, offering a balanced challenge that scales with experience.
- Complete the tutorial before entering multiplayer.
- Adjust difficulty settings to match personal skill level.
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