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In Patch 5.2.131, we’re enhancing the Hardest AI Difficulty to provide a far more difficult and engaging experience for those of you seeking a challenge. Also, you’ll now be able to correctly remove your map pool downvotes if you change your mind.
We’re also providing a sneak peek of some of the next events upcoming in Season Three!
- Hardest AI Difficulty Improved
- Downvote Bug Fixed
- New Event: Lunar Faire
- New Event: Kindred Spirits
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Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Empires what it is today!
—The Age of Empires Team
🢂 Download on the Microsoft Store
Remember that you’ll need to update your game in the Microsoft Store:
- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Click the [∙ ∙ ∙ ] symbol next to your profile picture.
- Select Downloads and updates.
- Press the Get updates button to automatically detect, download, and install the latest changes to your game!
- Open the game. The title screen should show you on Build 5.2.131.
If you are unable to launch the game after downloading the update, make sure you add (or re-add) the Age of Empires IV client or folder as an exception to your firewall and antivirus program. That’s it; you’re ready to play!
🢂 Download on Steam
Remember that you’ll need to update your game in Steam:
- Open Steam.
- Click on Library to see your games list.
- Click Downloads at the bottom of the Library window.
- [If the new build does not download automatically,] click the Download Now button to manually download the new update.
- Open the game. The title screen should show you on Build 5.2.131.
That’s it; you’re ready to play!
🢂 Download on the Xbox App for Windows 11
Remember that you’ll need to update your game in the Xbox App for Windows.
- Open the Xbox app.
- Games that are installed show up on the left side of the app.
- Hover over the game or click it, and then select Update.
- [If the new build does not download automatically,] hover over the game, select More Options (…), choose Manage. Under the Files tab, choose the option to Check for Updates.
- Open the game. The title screen should show you on Build 5.2.131.
That’s it; you’re ready to play!
Still having trouble? Visit our support site!
Bug Fixes
General
Fixed a bug that prevented players from un-downvoting maps that have been removed from the matchmaking map pool.
AI
New Hardest AI Difficulty
Previously, the goal of the Hardest AI was to serve the role of a real live opponent, but we realize there are many of you who desire to have an AI experience that is more intense with the odds stacked against you. To that end, we are giving the Hardest AI a resource-gathering boost. We look forward to hearing what you think about this new level of challenge!
AI Changes
- The Hardest AI now receives a 2x resource gathering bonus. This also affects income received from passive sources such as sacred sites and relics.
- Hardest AI military production changed to start earlier than before to allow the AI to make attacks earlier.
- Easy AI will now build fewer defensive structures and will raid less.
Developer Note: This change was intended for new players against Easy AI Difficulty, so they won’t need to build so defensively early on in the game.
- AI early resource gathering has been adjusted:
- Reduced the preference for early stone gathering when the AI is not being defensive.
- Increased wood gathering preference while transitioning to the Feudal Age.
- Malian AI starting economy changed to prefer to gather more wood to afford an Open Pit Mine earlier.
- Delayed when the Malian AI will start to produce cattle to prevent the AI from overspending on them too early.
- Adjusted the AI logic for producing anti-building siege units to improve the AI’s production of rams and trebuchets when faced with enemy walls and defenses.
- Adjusted the AI logic for producing fishing boats to lower their priority when the AI has a stronger need for naval military ships.
- Adjusted the AI to prevent it from desiring to build a wonder if its team or the enemy already has one.
- Adjusted the AI logic when it has an allied Wonder on its team to prevent it from going overly defensive too quickly. The AI will now consider the time remaining on its team’s Wonder victory timer and its comparative military strength before deciding whether it should be defensive or to continue aggression.
- Improved how the AI uses multiple Fireships at once to attack enemy ships.
- Fixed a bug that was preventing the AI from performing one type of its harassment attacks.
- Fixed a bug where the AI would allow its Villagers to fight back against enemy harassment that would still end up not being in its own favor. The AI will be less tolerant of how many Villager casualties it would take if it decided to fight back instead of fleeing.
- Fixed a bug with the AI distributing its Fishing Boats among many deep-sea fish deposits instead of prioritizing assigning them to the closest sources to the dock as much as possible.
Season Three Event: Lunar Faire
In just a few days, dance in the moonlight during our next event of Season Three, the Lunar Faire! The Lunar Faire runs from January 23rd through to February 9th, so be sure to mark your calendars and claim your Lucky Envelope!
Season Three Event: Kindred Spirits
After the celebrations are over with Lunar Faire, revel in beauty, love, and good health in our upcoming event Kindred Spirits! Kindred Spirits begins on February 10th and runs through to February 15th, so don’t miss out on your rewards!
What's on the Horizon
Coming Up…
Be sure to log in during our Season Three Events Lunar Faire and Kindred Spirits to claim your rewards! After the upcoming events, we’ll be nearing the end of Season Three and draw ever closer to the end of the ranked season which comes to a close on February 15th. We’ll be announcing Ranked Season Four dates soon, but until then, our Season Four Public Update Preview is running right now through to January 23rd! If you want a sneak peek into Enchanted Grove and what else Season Four will bring, you can participate in the PUP and become an Age Insider!
To join the Age of Empires Insider Program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Xbox Live account. This is a free account that can be connected to any active email address.
- Be 18 or older. All Insiders are required to read and sign a non-disclosure agreement to participate in any playtesting opportunities.
To participate in the Public Update Preview, please review our support documentation here.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that this list is subject to change and should not be considered a comprehensive list of all the known issues we’re tracking. The above is to inform you of the team’s current priorities, which will change as other issues arise or take precedence.
For the latest updates and announcements, please visit our social channels.