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Age of Empires
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| 2s | [XBOX SOUND] |
|---|---|
| 3s | Now there's nothing like enhancing a classic with modern graphics |
| 7s | and gameplay mechanics. |
| 8s | And if that classic can feature new expansions and a remastering |
| 12s | of the multiplayer experience, then in my eyes it's even better. |
| 15s | So here from World's Edge |
| 17s | to give us the latest on Age of Mythology-- |
| 19s | Retold, please welcome senior director of production |
| 22s | Earnest Yuen and senior game designer Kristen Parrillo. |
| 24s | Welcome and prostagma. |
| 26s | Prostagma. |
| 27s | Prostagma to you. |
| 28s | Thank you so much. |
| 29s | Now, Age of Mythology, there's loads going on here at gamescom. |
| 32s | In general, there's loads going on anyway. |
| 34s | But you also had a pretty epic Opening Night Live, |
| 36s | so I want to hear all about that. |
| 37s | I want to hear all about the booth. |
| 39s | I want to hear everything. |
| 40s | EARNEST YUEN: Great. |
| 40s | So first, thank you, Geoff Keighley, |
| 42s | for showing the awesome premiere trailer that we just showed you |
| 45s | at Opening Night Live last night. |
| 46s | And we showed the story of Athena |
| 49s | talking to the young hero. |
| 51s | In this case, one of them is, of course, |
| 53s | the key character, Arkantos. |
| 55s | And about this really, really epic story |
| 58s | that a lot of our fans remember really fondly. |
| 60s | So over multiple campaigns, over 50 missions. |
| 63s | It is epic, amazing. |
| 65s | And of course, the trailer also show off |
| 66s | the new graphics we have in the game, looking really pretty. |
| 69s | It is just really good to see. |
| 71s | So-- |
| 72s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yeah, and the trailer's |
| 73s | been fantastic because it really showcases |
| 75s | how diverse each civilization is within myth. |
| 78s | We have our Greeks. |
| 79s | We have Egyptians, Norse, and Atlantean. |
| 82s | They all have their own gods, their lore, the way |
| 84s | that they play. |
| 85s | There's just so much diversity within the gameplay. |
| 88s | It's been really exciting. |
| 89s | EARNEST YUEN: And talking about the booth-- yes, we are here. |
| 92s | So people can actually come-- |
| 94s | You're just over the back over there. |
| 95s | Yes. |
| 96s | Tucked away over that way. |
| 97s | Right there. |
| 97s | If anyone's planning on coming tomorrow, just over there. |
| 100s | And if you come, you can get these awesome lightning bolts |
| 102s | and also take pictures. |
| 103s | So that's really, really cool. |
| 105s | And by the way, this is not the only thing that we have here. |
| 108s | So on top of Age of Mythology-- |
| 110s | Retold, we also recently announced Age of Empires Mobile. |
| 114s | CHARLEYY: Woo hoo! |
| 115s | And then if you come by the booth, |
| 117s | you can get this awesome pop socket. |
| 119s | It's amazing. |
| 120s | So highly recommend. |
| 121s | CHARLEYY: I'm going to be first in the queue |
| 122s | to get one of those as soon as possible. |
| 124s | It's so cool. |
| 125s | And the game is actually-- we just announced that it's going |
| 127s | to be available globally on October 17th. |
| 132s | So it's a very different, very new experience |
| 135s | that we're expanding Age of Empires to the mobile audience. |
| 139s | So it's a game built with the awesome TiMi studio group, |
| 142s | and they have crafted something that's |
| 144s | amazing for the mobile gamers. |
| 145s | Oh, how exciting. |
| 146s | I can't wait to see it. |
| 147s | Amazing. |
| 148s | Right, so I know you have more news |
| 150s | to come as we're talking here today. |
| 151s | But the first thing I want to talk about |
| 153s | is that this is more of a-- |
| 155s | well, it's more than a remastering, |
| 156s | but it's different to a sequel, right? |
| 158s | So I'm going to-- what in the name of gods |
| 160s | does Retold actually mean? |
| 161s | Right. |
| 162s | So for a few years now, our fans know |
| 165s | we have been building these things called |
| 166s | definitive editions. |
| 168s | And what this only-- |
| 169s | there's one key goal that we have, |
| 171s | which is we want to build the title that's in your head, |
| 174s | right? |
| 174s | Because when you actually think about the games that you grew up |
| 178s | with and play-- like, you remember fondly-- |
| 180s | CHARLEYY: The nostalgia of it all. |
| 181s | EARNEST YUEN: Right? |
| 182s | CHARLEYY: Yeah. |
| 182s | EARNEST YUEN: But when you actually try |
| 184s | to play the original for real, and look at it and say, |
| 186s | that's not what I remember at all. |
| 189s | So we want to build the one that's actually in your head, |
| 191s | and how it looks like, how it feels like. |
| 193s | So that's the goal. |
| 194s | And yeah, really want to thank the fans |
| 197s | for supporting us for so long for all the different editions. |
| 201s | But for Retold, if you have been following Retold, |
| 203s | we are going beyond what we have done in definitive editions. |
| 207s | So on top of all the graphics and all the gameplay |
| 210s | from the original, we actually tweaked it |
| 212s | and added a bunch of new things to it as well, |
| 215s | and it is just amazing. |
| 216s | So-- |
| 216s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yeah. |
| 216s | I mean, from the design side from the |
| 218s | get go, we really asked ourselves |
| 220s | how can we maximize our mythology? |
| 222s | And so we've got reusable god powers, |
| 226s | which you can actually see. |
| 227s | We've got our approachability features, |
| 230s | like our VPS we brought in from other titles. |
| 233s | We've got a more favor based economy, |
| 236s | so you can build more monsters. |
| 237s | And our population cap is much higher now. |
| 240s | So not only can you build more monsters, |
| 241s | you can just build more of everything. |
| 243s | CHARLEYY: You had me at more monsters. |
| 244s | I'll stop you there. |
| 245s | It feels like a love letter. |
| 246s | Really, everything you've learned so far, |
| 248s | you're bringing back. |
| 249s | And I love the idea of taking out what you see in your head |
| 251s | and then making that version of the game. |
| 253s | I think it's absolutely wonderful. |
| 254s | So you mentioned a little bit about god powers, actually. |
| 257s | I heard we have our very own gods wandering around |
| 259s | at Gamescom, by the way, while we're on the subject. |
| 261s | Yes. |
| 262s | We have invited them to the booth, |
| 264s | so you also can actually see them. |
| 266s | We have Athena and Zeus here in our booth. |
| 269s | So come by, see them. |
| 271s | Or you can see them on screen like that. |
| 272s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Zeus is loose. |
| 274s | CHARLEYY: Goodness me, where did you find that Zeus? |
| 276s | EARNEST YUEN: They are amazing. |
| 278s | That is so cool. |
| 280s | CHARLEYY: Nice. |
| 281s | Oh my goodness me. |
| 282s | EARNEST YUEN: Please come by. |
| 284s | It takes a lot of work for us to invite them to the booth. |
| 286s | So-- |
| 287s | CHARLEYY: A lot of convincing. |
| 288s | EARNEST YUEN: A lot of convincing. |
| 289s | CHARLEYY: Beautiful. |
| 289s | Awesome. |
| 290s | OK, back to the game now. |
| 291s | Sorry, tangent. |
| 291s | So seeing the gameplay that we just saw just then, |
| 293s | it's really clear that the team has been hard at work |
| 295s | on the visuals. |
| 296s | I think you've both mentioned it already. |
| 297s | So what can we expect? |
| 298s | What exactly does that mean? |
| 299s | EARNEST YUEN: So for graphics, we actually |
| 301s | have redone every single graphics that you actually |
| 305s | see in the game. |
| 306s | So every single 3D asset, every single animations effects, |
| 311s | all of them are completely rebuilt, so just for this game. |
| 315s | And it's amazing. |
| 316s | The team did really, really good work. |
| 318s | But we want to make sure that you also keep |
| 320s | the flavor of the original. |
| 321s | CHARLEYY: Of course, yes. |
| 321s | EARNEST YUEN: Because, again, we want |
| 322s | to build a game that people remember. |
| 323s | CHARLEYY: Yeah, yeah, yeah. |
| 324s | EARNEST YUEN: So it's really, really good. |
| 325s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yeah. |
| 326s | I mean, we-- it has been a labor of love, I will say that much. |
| 329s | Yeah, so we've got asset by asset, |
| 331s | and we've just made overall improvements. |
| 333s | We wanted everything to look and feel mythical. |
| 336s | And so we have our destruction effects. |
| 338s | We support ray tracing. |
| 339s | But like Earnest had said earlier, sometimes |
| 342s | when we've gone back and look at these assets in 2024, |
| 345s | we realized that we had an image in our head |
| 347s | that was very different than blurry pixels wrapped |
| 350s | around a sphere. |
| 351s | And so we had a lot of philosophical discussions |
| 353s | because the dev team were all major fans of the original. |
| 356s | So I mean, Arkantos was a big one where we were like, |
| 359s | would he have a dimple? |
| 361s | Or would his chin be more square? |
| 363s | Would he have-- |
| 363s | CHARLEYY: I want to be in those meetings, please. |
| 365s | They have been really fun. |
| 367s | It's part Rorschach test, looking at some of the assets. |
| 369s | And then it's, like, labor of love. |
| 371s | And it all comes together to make that game that we |
| 374s | remember loving and playing. |
| 375s | CHARLEYY: Amazing. |
| 376s | So if I've got everything right here, so Age of Mythology-- |
| 379s | Retold is complete visual overhaul, updated god powers, |
| 382s | and larger than life myth units. |
| 384s | Now it's more than enough to keep me interested, |
| 386s | but is there anything else that you have to share? |
| 388s | EARNEST YUEN: Yes. |
| 389s | We definitely want to say that-- remind |
| 391s | people one of the coolest thing that we have done for here |
| 395s | is we are releasing on PC and Xbox |
| 398s | with cross-play at the same time. |
| 400s | We have never done that with any Age games. |
| 403s | So it is the first time we are releasing on multiple platform |
| 405s | at the same time. |
| 406s | So really, really happy to be able to bring the game |
| 409s | to not only to the keyboard and mouse player, |
| 411s | but to controllers players as well. |
| 413s | Because the game people really remembered, beloved it. |
| 415s | We want everybody to be able to play together. |
| 417s | And you've had some fantastic versions |
| 419s | on the console recently, so those players |
| 421s | want to absolutely join you. |
| 422s | Now, you also have some other really exciting things |
| 424s | to tell us today. |
| 425s | I know I'm really gripped for this bit. |
| 427s | What can you tell us about the Freyr gods pack? |
| 429s | Oh, I am so excited to be able to talk about this. |
| 431s | CHARLEYY: Here we go. |
| 432s | So the Freyr god pack really is kind |
| 434s | of like a new DLC type for us. |
| 436s | And what we really wanted to do was offer players a new strategy |
| 439s | type for the Norse, which is a beloved civilization |
| 442s | from the legacy game that can sometimes |
| 444s | be very offensive in the way that it plays. |
| 446s | And so with our Freyr godpack, we |
| 448s | wanted to offer a defensive skew to it. |
| 450s | So with the Freyr godpack, players |
| 452s | will be getting four new god types |
| 455s | featuring Freyr, who is the god of fertility and kingship. |
| 457s | CHARLEYY: Four new gods. |
| 459s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: And then three minor gods, as well as |
| 461s | all the things that they come with, |
| 462s | like their myth units and their god powers. |
| 464s | CHARLEYY: Wow. |
| 464s | Oh my goodness me. |
| 465s | That's insane, by the way. |
| 466s | Four new gods. |
| 467s | Amazing. |
| 468s | Are you able to talk us through each one? |
| 470s | Can we do that? |
| 471s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yes. |
| 471s | CHARLEYY: Amazing. |
| 472s | Excellent. |
| 473s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: So we have Ullr, who is the god of archery. |
| 475s | And his myth unit is a draugr, which you may see in the film |
| 478s | here. |
| 479s | The draugr is an awesome myth unit. |
| 481s | He is an undead archer, and his arrows |
| 483s | can pierce multiple targets, whatever |
| 485s | is in his line of sight. |
| 486s | We have Aegir, who is the god of storms. |
| 489s | And his god power, he has a horrifying hailstorm |
| 492s | that will slow everybody down, and it's very frosty. |
| 495s | And he has one of the best myth units, which is a rock giant. |
| 498s | And if you upgrade him, he can eat buildings, and he will. |
| 501s | [LAUGHING] |
| 502s | CHARLEYY: god, I love this game. |
| 503s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: And our mythic age god |
| 505s | is Vidarr, who is the god of vengeance. |
| 507s | Very appropriate for the mythic age. |
| 509s | And so his god power, he calls upon Fenrir, |
| 511s | which is a mythological wolf. |
| 513s | And Fenrir is interesting. |
| 514s | He has a path of destruction. |
| 516s | He'll light forests on fire. |
| 517s | And the wolf comes up in a very scary, ghostly manner. |
| 520s | And then his myth unit is actually my personal favorite. |
| 523s | Another famous character from mythology, |
| 525s | Fafnir, who is a very greedy dragon. |
| 528s | Everywhere he goes, he leaves a trail of poison. |
| 530s | CHARLEYY: Love it. |
| 531s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: And if you slay Fafnir on the battlefield, |
| 533s | he actually melts into a pile of gold coins. |
| 536s | CHARLEYY: Oh, wow. |
| 536s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: So it's been very fun to make. |
| 538s | CHARLEYY: I really love how much |
| 539s | you fleshed out each of those. |
| 540s | Like, yeah, that one's going to eat buildings, isn't he? |
| 543s | Love it. |
| 543s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yes. |
| 543s | CHARLEYY: So good. |
| 544s | EARNEST YUEN: It's amazing. |
| 544s | CHARLEYY: Wonderful. |
| 545s | EARNEST YUEN: It's amazing. |
| 546s | Just want to do a quick reminder that Freyr |
| 548s | is going to be part of the premium edition of the game. |
| 551s | So if you want Freyr and all the major and minor gods, |
| 555s | so definitely get the premium edition. |
| 557s | And by the way, if you get the premium edition of the game, |
| 559s | you also will be able to access the game earlier. |
| 562s | So the game is coming out September 4th, |
| 565s | but if you have the premium edition, |
| 566s | you can start playing on August 28th, seven days early. |
| 569s | CHARLEYY: Sounds like a good deal to me. |
| 570s | I love it. |
| 571s | Awesome. |
| 571s | So as well as choosing your god and battling |
| 573s | across this frozen North, what other new content |
| 576s | can we expect from the Freyr gods pack? |
| 577s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yes. |
| 578s | So with the Freyr god pack, there's |
| 580s | also a new playable level called Reginleif's Rally. |
| 582s | And I won't spoil it. |
| 584s | It's very fun. |
| 585s | You'll get the chance to play all of the fun new myth units |
| 588s | and god powers and text I just mentioned. |
| 590s | And really, the best part of this level |
| 592s | is that it does feature one of our villains |
| 594s | from the legacy campaign, Gargarensis, |
| 596s | who is just a peach. |
| 597s | And it's a great experience. |
| 599s | [LAUGHING] |
| 600s | I'm stuck on peach there. |
| 602s | I can't wait to unpack this expansion. |
| 604s | But I need to ask you both. |
| 605s | Earnest, Kristen-- what dates? |
| 607s | I know we spoke them a little bit, |
| 608s | but let's go over it one more time |
| 609s | so everyone's got them written on the calendar at home. |
| 611s | Yep. |
| 612s | September 4th is when the game is coming out. |
| 614s | But I do want to be clear that the way that we like to build |
| 616s | our game, September 4th is really just the beginning. |
| 619s | CHARLEYY: Oh. |
| 619s | So we will continue to support the game. |
| 621s | We will continue to do updates, balance, listen |
| 623s | to consumer feedback. |
| 625s | And honestly, our peers are amazing. |
| 626s | They give us really good feedback, |
| 628s | and then we can continue to improve the game. |
| 630s | KRISTEN PARRILLO: Yeah. |
| 630s | And part of that is, yeah, we have two new pantheons coming |
| 633s | with playable civilizations. |
| 634s | And then we also have a new game mode, Arena of the gods, |
| 637s | which we're excited to talk about soon. |
| 638s | CHARLEYY: Ooh, how exciting. |
| 639s | Well, thank you both so much for joining me. |
| 640s | It's been an absolute pleasure. |
| 641s | I'm going to make sure I get the pop socket. |
| 643s | I'm going to make sure I get whatever these things |
| 645s | you're wearing. |
| 646s | I'm going to hunt you down. |
| 646s | I'm going to get them. |
| 647s | So thanks so much for stopping by. |
| 648s | There are loads more Age of Mythology stuff |
| 650s | going on for all types of gamers. |
| 652s | But first things first, as Earnest |
| 654s | said, if you haven't already, make |
| 656s | sure you preorder Age Of Mythology-- |
| 657s | Retold premium edition to get the Freyr godpack, |
| 660s | seven days early access, and so much more. |
| 663s | You can play early from August 28th, |
| 665s | and that is only one week from today. |
| 668s | And that, my friends, is a wrap on Day 1 |
| 671s | from the Xbox gamescom booth here in Germany. |
| 674s | [XBOX SOUND] |