German IT news portal Heise covers Aoe DE, describing the new features and graphics, and ends with a sentence that says one should expect more public news about the game during Gamescom fair in August (22-26) in Cologne, Germany. No real news for us re: closed beta, sorry.
You can read the (German) article here and translate with a tool of your choice 
More of the same, no new news. 
Well that’s what we know from the E3 PC Gamer Show. They said they will celebrate the anniversary of AoE and tell us more at gamescom. I still hope that more news means that they’ll announce AoE 4.
@“Mr blu3storm” said:
Well that’s what we know from the E3 PC Gamer Show. They said they will celebrate the anniversary of AoE and tell us more at gamescom. I still hope that more news means that they’ll announce AoE 4.
I think it will be, AOE:DE should be mainly done by then if they are aiming for a 2017 release so what else would take the time of not only the FE team but this expanded team of vets with ensemble links? The teams created with a massive franchise focus and specialism, where else can they go? The other games have stood the test of time.