Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition is now on Xbox Game Pass and has been retooled for Xbox Series X
Conquer on console
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Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Editionhas been announced at Gamescom and has debuted onXbox Game Passfor Xbox Series X|S.
Fans of some of thebest strategy gameswill want to haveAge of Empires 4: Anniversary Editionon their radar. Not only has the once previously PC-only title now emerged onto theXbox Series X|Sbut it’s been entirely re-engineered with theXbox Wireless Controllerin mind, too.
ThisXbox Game Passstrategy title has been made with sticks, bumpers, and buttons as the main control method instead of the keyboard and mouse layout of the original version from two years ago. As revealed in theannouncement trailer, you’re now able to “control your empire with the push of a button” which translates to the new wheel-like U.I. system, replacing the pointer and toolbar system of the first iteration which wouldn’t have played nice with the limited analog movement.
Adding to the streamlined nature of the console experience, there’s a new automation system, also contained within a wheel format, which allows for different levels of assistance from “basic” to “balanced” and more manual control. A quick snippet of in-engine footage reveals Villagers, Military, Support, and Landmarks mapped to different directions on the D-pad, with the menu being mapped to RT and acceleration options on LT.
Different units during battles are also coded to this system as the developers state you can “rally your troops with ease” as the different regiments can be guided with one of thebest Xbox controllers. Clearly, a lot of time has gone into making the title accessible and adaptable on the console platform without sacrificing the complexity of the original. That’s because four campaigns are available which could total anywhere from 27 hours to nearly 100.
If you’ve been interested in checking out the series but never owned one of thebest gaming PCsthen now is an ample opportunity. The game has been simplified in ways that mean picking up a gamepad is just as viable as using one of thebest gaming miceor one of thebest gaming keyboards. What’s more, it’s on Game Pass from the get-go, so there’s no harm in trying it out if you’re an existing subscriber.
Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition will look especially good on one of thebest monitors for Xbox Series X, and you can ensure you’ve got room for the game with one of thebest Xbox Series X external hard drives and SSDs.
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Aleksha McLoughlin is an experienced hardware writer. She was previously the Hardware Editor for TechRadar Gaming until September 2023. During this time, she looked after buying guides and wrote hardware reviews, news, and features. She has also contributed hardware content to the likes of PC Gamer, Trusted Reviews, Dexerto, Expert Reviews, and Android Central. When she isn’t working, you’ll often find her in mosh pits at metal gigs and festivals or listening to whatever new black and death metal has debuted that week.
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