Tomorrow is another fun-filled update for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition! This will bring back the Empire Wars 1v1 ladder, plus bug fixes, new quality of life features, balance changes, and more! While there are plenty of notable things to look forward to in tomorrow’s build, here’s some of the big highlights coming with this update:

• 1v1 Empire Wars is available again, replacing the Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado ladder.
• Several changes and fixes on Victors and Vanquished scenarios.
• New QoL changes.
• Bug fixes based on your feedback.
• Balance changes.

Be sure to dig down into the post below to get all of the smaller details before hopping in-game and checking them out firsthand.

This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!

💬 DISCUSS: Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Forum 🗣 JOIN: The Age of Empires Official Discord

Thank you 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

◆ Update 125283 ◆

Game

Stability & Performance

• The game will no longer momentarily display a black screen on lower spec machines while switching between Age of Empires II and Return of Rome modes.
• Fixed an issue where a black screen softlock could be encountered when restoring a save file of a custom campaign.
• Fixed an issue where the game would freeze in certain situations (was encountered mostly when playing custom scenarios).
• Fixed a crash which could occur when targeting movable objects on impassable tiles.

Graphics

• Bamboo tree graphics (including felled and stumps) are no longer reduced by Small Trees option.

Audio

• Menu narrator no longer plays if the window is out of focus.

UI

• Bridges are now displayed on the minimap with the same color as shallows terrain.
• Corrected the 4v4 map size given in the Ranked Team Queue menu from “normal” to “large”.
• Civilization Selection
  • The civilization selection dialog sports a new look! The new design includes the ability to mark civilizations as starred. On Console, the dialog now also uses a grid instead of a carousel, making it easier to select any civilization.
  • Added the Custom civilization selection mode, which chooses randomly from starred civilizations.
• Fixed an issue where the game language was resetting to the system language at the game launch.

Hotkeys

• Changed the default Drop Off Resources hotkey for HD preset from A to Z, preventing the conflict with Economic Buildings hotkey.
• In Return of Rome, changed the default Cancel build hotkey in HD hotkey preset to unassigned.

Xbox

• Fixed an issue where the mouse could not be used in the settings menu.
• Fixed an issue where hotkeys could not be set via the mouse.
• Fixed an oversight where Fortified Churches were excluded from the “All Back to Work” button.
• Fixed an issue where 2013 Xbox One consoles were unintentionally able to join 3v3 and 4v4 ranked queues.
• Fixed an issue where Voice Chat to Text setting couldn’t be enabled without a game restart.
• The game no longer crashes on the load screen during the Launch Chunk while in ‘Ready to Play’ state of the install.

This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!

:alertalert: DISCLAIMER

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.

Minor Update 127161

• Fixed an issue where Italians don't get discounted fishing ships when you create them by using a hotkey
• Fixed an issue where using the Hotkey to Produce Fishing Ships at the Dock Produces "Antiquity Mode Fishing Ships" Instead
• Fixed an issue where sending a gold miner that is carrying gold to a dock keeps mining it like if it was a gold vein
• Fixed an issue with the rebuilding fish trap hotkey.
• Fixed an issue where 1 HP Mongol light cav/steppe lancers die when reaching imperial age.
• Fixed an issue where AI would not create military ships.
• Addressed various crashes related to cloud saves.
• Fixed an issues where loading data mods would result in error messages.
• Fixed an issue where units would randomly switch to a staggered formation.
• Fixed an issue where tool tips would remain on screen even after changing menus.