What Are the Three Kingdoms?

The Three Kingdoms era, spanning from 220 to 280 AD, represents a pivotal chapter in Chinese history and culture. Emerging from the collapse of the Han Dynasty, which had been weakened by internal strife and corruption, this period saw the division of China into three rival states: Wei, Shu, and Wu. The intense military conflicts and political maneuvering among warlords such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and the Sun Clan have been immortalized in the classic novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” blending historical events with myth and legend. Much like the fall of the Roman Empire signaled the beginning of the Middle Ages in Europe, the disintegration of the Han Dynasty and the ensuing Three Kingdoms era can be viewed as the beginning of the medieval period for China, marking a transition from the ancient imperial unity to a time of fragmentation and regional power struggles.

The significance of the Three Kingdoms era extends far beyond its immediate hi...

AoE Official April 9, 2025

Hi Age of Empires IV community! We have heard your feedback regarding the variant civilizations released with Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose. It seems that the House of Lancaster hit the battlefield with a little too much muscle, so we are scaling back their power in today’s patch to get them to a more balanced state. We are also adjusting some of the Knights Templar’s numbers to redistribute their power more fairly.  

We truly appreciate all your feedback—while we anticipate these tweaks will get things where we want them to be, we will continue to monitor player feedback and balance suggestions as the ranked season progresses! 

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

AoE Official April 9, 2025

Welcome heroes to another exciting update full of bug fixes, new audio updates, and hotkey changes! So take a peak at the notes before jumping in game!

Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Mythology: Retold a success thus far!

—The Age of Mythology Team

Dive into the action of the newest DLC for Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose! Experience rich, historically-inspired gameplay across a variety of additional content, including two new variant civilizations designed around player feedback and suggestions – the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster.

Command these iconic armies plucked straight out of the pages of history, and forge your own destiny! Lead the Knights Templar in the Battle of Montgisard as they stave off Saladin’s forces, and ensure the House of Lancaster’s survival against the Yorkists after a calamitous defeat at Towton. Knights of Cross and Rose is available now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox!

Knights of Cross and Rose comes packed with creative content sure to surprise new and old players alike, including:

• Two New Variant Civilizations: The Knights Templar (French variant) and House of Lancaster (English variant) – shaking up gameplay like never before!

• Four Historical Battles: In ...

AoE Official April 3, 2025

Spring is officially here, and Age of Empires IV is almost ready to blossom with a new ranked season! This update brings with it a fresh map pool and a bundle of balance changes, along with the kickoff of Ranked Season Ten. Be on the lookout for the Clash of Champions mini event, along with a unique new map feature. 

Alongside this update, we will be releasing the Knights of Cross and Rose DLC across all platforms! Players can look forward to two new variant civilizations, the valorous Knights Templar and the ever-capable House of Lancaster. Additionally, the DLC will contain the new Historical Battles game mode, ten unique maps, and new achievements. Check out the announcement here, and from pre-order here, or read on for more details! 

Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Empires what it is today!

AoE Official April 2, 2025

Welcome heroes to another exciting update full of bug fixes, new audio updates, and more! So take a peak at the notes before jumping in game!

Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Mythology: Retold a success thus far!

—The Age of Mythology Team

AoE Official March 20, 2025

Welcome heroes to another exciting update full of balance changes, bug fixes, and modding updates! So take a peek at the notes and then jump in to the latest for Age of Mythology: Retold!

Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Mythology: Retold a success thus far!

—The Age of Mythology Team

Delve into the action of the next DLC for Age of Empires IV – Knights of Cross and Rose! Experience rich, historically-inspired design across a variety of additional content, including a different design philosophy behind two new variant civilizations – the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster.

Command these iconic armies straight out of history, and forge your own destiny! Lead the Knights Templar in the Battle of Montgisard as they stave off Saladin’s forces, and ensure the House of Lancaster’s survival against the Yorkists after a calamitous defeat at Towton. Knights of Cross and Rose launches on April 8th and is available for pre-order now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox, with a 15% discount!

Knights of Cross and Rose delivers new experiences to Age of Empires IV players with:

• Two new Variant Civilizations that change gameplay like never before – Knights Templar (French variant) and House of Lancaster (English variant). 

• New game mode: Historical Battl...