Microsoft launched on Tuesday Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles.

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This is an adapted version of the game for consoles of the latest entry in the celebrated RTS series.

Instead of the usual mouse and keyboard, the console version features full gamepad support.

Age of Empires 4 comes to Xbox in its Anniversary Edition, which includes additional content, such as new civilizations, maps and more.

Because it is an Xbox Game Studios title, it is also coming as a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass.

Subscribers of Microsoft‘s gaming service can already play the full game on consoles and via cloud gaming at no additional cost.

Age of Empires is one of the best-selling strategy game series of all time and has been around since 1997.

This latest entry, Age of Empires 4, is set during the High Middle Ages, and up until the early Renaissance.

Players command civilizations, build their forces, and engage in battles with other players’ armies or computer-controlled enemies.

Some of the civilizations featured in the game are the English, the French, the Chinese, the Mongols, and the Holy Roman Empire.

A key mechanic of the game requires players to advance their civilizations through several ages until they reach the final Imperial Age.

Every age – of which there are four – brings new units, buildings, and technology upgrades for your forces.

The game features four single-player campaigns that reenact historical events and the rise and fall of real-world civilizations.

Two of Age of Empires 4’s campaigns retell episodes from British history – the Norman conquest of England and The Hundred Years’ War.

The other two follow the expansion of the Mongol Empire and the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

The Anniversary Edition includes two new civilizations – the Malians of West Africa and the Ottomans.

Age of Empires 4 and this console version specifically, feature extensive tutorials to ease newcomers into the game and its controls on console.

The game also includes multiplayer modes, allowing you to play with or against seven of your friends online.

Age of Empires 4 was first released for Windows PC on October 21, 2021, before coming to Microsoft’s consoles yesterday, August 22, 2023.

Written by Stoyan Ovcharov on behalf of GLHF.