New surprise DLC on 25th anniversary?

[Tyranno13]

Finally, some heads screwed on correctly.

[Darkness01101]

@StarGazer07Bond

Which major date now that you guys look forward to?
27 September gone
30 September gone
4 October gone
6 October gone
?

November 14th

AoE2:DE came out Nov 14, 2019, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original, even though its timing wasn’t exact month to AoK’s release date.

So, Nov 14th seems reasonable to me. It’d be a 5 year anniversary of AoE2:DE, while also helping to celebrate 25th anniversary of AoK.

---

And if that wasn’t enough proof, keep in mind November is the 11th month:

• ‘11’ added together = 2. This is AoE “2”
• AoE’s famous taunt = 11

And the 14th day:

• 1+4 = 5. This is the "5"th year anniversary

Further, D is the 4th letter of the alphabet. L the 12th. And C the 3rd, so:

• DLC added together (4+12+3) = 19
• The year 2024 added together (2+0+2+4) = 8
• 19 - 8 = 11 (i.e., the 11th month, November).

Hardly a coincidence, especially considering the ‘24’ part of 2024 added together = 6 (2+4). And 19 + 6 = 25 (the 25th anniversary)

Infallible logic and just imagine the marketing potential

Therefore, November 14th will certainly be the day

[Apocalypso4826]

@Darkness01101

And if that wasn’t enough proof, keep in mind November is the 11th month:

• ‘11’ added together = 2. This is AoE “2”
• AoE’s famous taunt = 11

And the 14th day:

• 1+4 = 5. This is the "5"th year anniversary

Infallible logic and just imagine the marketing potential

Therefore, November 14th will certainly be the day

This is televangelist levels of numerology.

[Quasibrodo]

@SouBotsito

you guys need to wake up, there is nothing coming,

Don’t mind the unnamed app in the steam db that’s been worked on for months now. “Wake up” and ignore the evidence and conclude if you didn’t get what you wanted when you wanted it that nothing is ever coming.

[anon57851381]

Nothing was ever going to be announced at RBW because that is just not the way they do business.

Remember Victors and Vanquished. They announced an announcement, then they revealed the content of the DLC. All via blog and youtube. RBW has its own hype, but not new DLC kind of hype.

I understand the frustration but there is really no reason for that unless you believe devs should match your marketing expectations

[SMUM15236]

I woke up in the morning, saw 52 new replies. I was like - This is it. Must be a discussion on new DLC. Well, I was wrong.

[i11]

When the devs watch you enthusiastically discuss something that doesn’t even exist for such a long time, they must think you look like clowns.

[zeppelino24]

Hello, is there any chance that some DLC will come out this month, I ask because there are 3 DLCs on the way, AOE II DE, AOE III DE and AOM retold, and there are only 3 months left until the year ends so I feel that The most feasible thing would be to release 1 DLC per month or what do you think about it?

[ReelBigFishBoom]

I doubt it, we might get the announcement this month but the earliest release date is likely November I would say

[MatM1996]

@voidpointer131

I liked RoR.

@Azmac93

Me too. It was the best AoE2 DLC for me personally (Because i’m a huge AoE1 fanboy).

But it brought up some problems i can understand. For AoE2 only players it’s a single civ that is way too expensive. And we AoE1 lovers now have the problem that there is the beautiful AoE1 DE with it’s wonderfull grafics, very detailed and variet animations (and stunning good looking water etc.) and a very atmospheric ingame UI (for me personally) with no support and technical issues and there is the super nice modernized version (gameplay-wise) RoR with it’s better unit behavier, useful additions like gates, land trade and visualized high end unit upgrades but it’s trapped in a DLC for another game and a downgrade on the visual side (i would say at least). So what should i play? what should i use to introduce someone to one of my favorite games? the beautiful but abandoned version or the version where you need to buy another game to play the actual game that is way better gameplay-wise but a visual downgrade in some way? It’s a mess for AoE1 fans. And a new version that combines both best parts is imposible now because the devs can’t release a third remaster/remake of AoE1 because fans would rage harder than the band rage against the machine because how often are you allowed to re-sell something again at this point.

So in the end i can understand the ‘‘hate’’ against RoR. We AoE1 fans are checkmated at this point i guess.

Yes, I think that RoR is a good DLC, but it was very weak… I want them to get more out of it in the future with new DLCs adding new civs and campaigns, plus the ones from 1 DE, and then they add UUs and fortresses acting as castles…

@StarGazer07Bond

Mobile training centres? Like a steppe moving yurt?

Yes, as in Gaiseric’s mission…although mobile TCs would be better as UB for the Cumans…

@zeppelino24

and it is based on real historical events, so fiction is not an option to follow (wink wink)

Unless it’s AoM and the original AoE 3 xd…

@BibelLesenGibtLeben

maybe it is 2/5/2025 (february 5th)

It’s not a bad date, but I’d see it more likely in January or March…

@PersiasRerising

A Balkan and a Skandinavian dlc would be nice. (After China and Africa is covered).
Then we could also have a Viking and Turks campaign with it.

Yes, although after VaV I see a campaign with the Vikings as unlikely…

@CoffeeKitten305

How it feels on 25th anniversary

And the one laughing behind the camera is AoE 3 DE xd…

@Tyranno13

• Traditional Chinese language is updated first for the DLC, despite normally it being languages in alphabetical order for every other update. Hindi language was also updated first before Dynasties of India.

@Tyranno13

I would hope that if a civ like Tibetans gets added, that regional monks do as well. So we can see them using more appropriate-looking models for the unit.

Yes, that’s true… I hope it happens…

@KHANATTILA

Honestly, I would just rename the Celts to Gaels, Slavs maybe in Rus’ or split them in two, and do something about the Goths and that’s it.

Yes, and the Woad Rider will be replaced by the Gallowglass…

@voidpointer131

I wouldn’t mind Venetians as a campaign-only civ. Much better than being represented by the Portuguese.

Yes, like in AoE 3 and 4 where you have campaign-only civs and there’s no problem with that…

@SamplingBoot796

I think the bookmark next to it has been extended to its limit.

I think they will add two more bookmarks and then some…if they add DLCs to America they will simply update the America page…

@MUTYLATOR5553

I don’t have TMR, V&V DLCs, soundtrack or Ikon packs, all in this Ultimate Bundle would cost me 155 PLN now - it’s relatively not that much considering there is no sale. I wonder how much this package would cost during the sale, because for 55 PLN I would buy it without hesitation.

I didn’t buy any more DLC from RoR onwards (and I’m not going to buy VaV because I already have the workshop scenarios)…maybe if they go down in price more, I’ll buy RoR (I doubt it because multiplayer is already dead and I already have 1DE) and TMR…

@SortedCave06635

I must say I am very disappointed with the way devs are treating us lately.

@CanineCrown7153

AOE3 players

@Quasibrodo

yeah, not an aoe3 player myself, but that “”“”“”“”“”“DLC reveal”“”“”“”“”“” in february was unbelievable. I was definitely pretty upset about V&V but it was surely better than two flags and 7 months of no other updates.

Yes, AoE 3 players have always suffered from this, what’s new is that this is also happening to AoE 2 players…

@SortedCave06635

Is there a persistent issue with Persian architecture in AOE3 that the developers have been neglecting update after update?

No, because there aren’t even Persians in AoE 3…

@SortedCave06635

Have they faced significant problems, like pathing issues, for months?

Yes, when the game came out it had a lot of pathing errors, the game could even corrupt files on your PC… now these errors don’t happen as often, but they can appear from time to time…

@SortedCave06635

Have they received DLCs with icon packs?

Yes, in fact that’s where they started with that type of DLC…although in that case they were skins for the explorers/scouts (although now they simply give them to you in “community events”)…

@SortedCave06635

Do they have reused campaign mods for DLC?

Yes, they even used assets from the Blood campaign to make the Maltese (the fixed guns, the commanderies, the gunpowder depots, the troops of the Knights of St. John and the Circle of Osseus and a long etc.)…

@SortedCave06635

Is there unannounced future DLC planned for this year? They have two flags, while we have nothing.

But AoE 2 had VaV this year, plus they showed an hour of a scenario… AoE 3 literally had 5 seconds with 2 PNGs and nothing else…

@SortedCave06635

Were they overlooked during their anniversary?

No, but because AoE 3’s 20th anniversary is next year and they’ll probably skip it…

@SortedCave06635

How does this situation compare overall?

That now AoE 2 players are suffering what AoE 3 players have been suffering for years… the devs instead of equalizing up, they equalize down…

@PersiasRerising

Ok, since we are extremely close to the reveal of the DLC, here is my (completely unrealistic and exaggerated) prediction. Lets see how much we will get. Everything is inspired by the number 5 and potential smaller DLCs that we don’t see yet.

• 5 new Civs:
  ** Thai
  ** Tibetans
  ** Jurchen
  ** Khitans
  ** Tanguts
• 5 new Campaigns for existing civs:
  ** China
  ** Japan
  ** Korea
  ** Turks
  ** Maya
• 5 regional unit skins
  ** European
  ** East Asian
  ** American
  ** African
  ** Middle eastern
• 5 new profile picture packs
• A birthday DLC Pack combining event rewards (Mods and Profile pics) of the last 5 years for the people that missed them.

I wish it, would be the best DLC since The Forgotten…

@PeakHornet46539

Problem is this Cysion said that they cannot introduce regional skins because it will bloat the memory requirements or something. Is this valid?

@PersiasRerising

If it is possible for monks, trade chards and buildings, I would not understand why it wouldn’t work for other units.

Yeah, for me they were just swinging around on that topic…

@PersiasRerising

Of course if we have a unique skin for every unit for EVERY civ that would increase the file size a lot. But we are talking about 5, maybe 7 different skins, where not every unit would be needed to be changed. Elephants are already Indian only for example.
And with all the new units we got since the DE, the file size did not increase that much. And as a solution for people with weaker computers, it can still be optional. Even though I think it’s not as critical for the memory as he said. I can make a scenario with every unit in the game, 8 players and 500 pop limit and it still runs normal.
So I stay hopeful that we could have a regional skin option in the game.

Yes, at most the game weighs 5 or 10 GB more with the regional skins but little more…

@Temudhun

It looks very cool, but it doesn’t solve the original issue. Villagers alone would make the game harder to run on many computers with regional skins.

I don’t think so, at most they would raise the game requirements a little more, but it’s not like I’m going to need the AoMR and 3 DE requirements to run the game…

@Quasibrodo

The cost benefit analysis was presumably, made with the assumption that there was very little benefit. If you assume you can’t monetize something, the benefit, necessarily, will be small. If you assume you can’t monetize something, today, tomorrow, yesterday, 2023, 2019, or 2030, it won’t affect the analysis one iota WHEN it happens, only what the assumptions are at the time of the analysis.

The assumption being made in 2018-2019 is important not because that is when the cost benefit analysis occurred, but that is when the assumptions were made, specifically the inability to monetize skins.

Now five years after the initial release of DE circumstances could have changed such that the original assumption, namely being unable to monetize skins, is no longer true. Pointing to cysion and saying sometime in the past he came to assume something isn’t a problem with the point i’m making, it underpins the point i’m making.

If in the future someone looks at the previous assumption, namely the inability to monetize skins, questions it, comes to a different conclusion, at that point the cost benefit analysis would have to be re-done, at which time coming to the conclusion that investing the necessary effort to update the game to be able to add and sell skins is financially advantageous, is now within the set of possible outcomes where previously it was not.

Cysion didn’t say they had come to that decision presently, but rather five years before hand. It has to occur to them to re-think their previous assumptions. that doesn’t occur automatically.

@Quasibrodo

I assume MS would say they think they can make $x selling skins, so it’d make sense if FE can optimize skins for less than $y.

But getting to your point, MS I think has 100% of the power. they own the game and they have world’s edge. If they really wanted to, they could either use that leverage to try to force FE to do what they want, or tell FE to get lost.

But presumably since FE has been making new content for the age franchise for a decade, it’s been a profitable endeavor, and I assume MS wants to keep it that way. So if FE says MS can’t sell skins cause it’d cost MS too much to optimize the game and/or the performance issues would be so bad that no one will want to play the game anymore and consequently won’t buy future content, I think MS would have to be very stupid not to listen to FE.

TLDR MS has all the power but they probably consider FE’s opinions, at least where technical matters are concerned.

Knowing Microsoft, they would be able to monetize the entire game no matter what…it’s FE who are afraid of opening Pandora’s box (EA Battlefront 2 flashbacks)…

@PersiasRerising

If they drop the trailer today at the red bull final, would it be before, after or in between the games?

Probably after the final…

@FloosWorld

Kinda makes sense. In AoE 3 for example, you have the option to pre-load all assets needed for a game into the RAM and iirc in most 1v1s, the game consumes 2-3 GB with this option enabled.
Could be probably worse in AoE 2 as Cysion explained. Units have 16 directions with 30 frames per animation which means you need a lot of RAM if every unit had its own sprite.

Yes, you will probably need 16GB of RAM to run the game with the skins…

@Tyranno13

Agree. I’m seeing people commenting on videos who haven’t played AoE2 in ages. It would be a fantastic way to boost the game to show off a new expansion right as the curtain comes down on the tournament. There’s a crowd right there…use it!

That’s why I’m bummed that AoE 3 DE wasn’t in RBW, they could use that moment to promote the Baltic DLC…

@WinFu1

Wdym viper is always winning? I mean overall he probably won the most but isn’t hera stomping pretty much every tourney for the last 1-2 years?

Because TheViper is a god…he won several tournaments in AoE 2 and 4…

@PeakHornet46539

Hera wins. What’s next?

With the Argentine flag on top (another crowning glory) xd…

@WinFu1

Unfortunately nothing.

@voidpointer131

Nothing. Nothing ever happens.

@voidpointer131

Called it. lol

F in the chat then…

@Akoskaaa10

Game is deaddddddddd

(AoE 1 watching from afar as his brother begins to match him)…

@Josh1Axel

I was hoping they would reveal the new AoM faction, a new DLC for AoE 2, and even some big changes for AoE 3; and even something new for AoE 4 due to the radical change it had in its last patch.

Yes, but they will save it for their respective trailers and that’s it… nothing more…

@StarGazer07Bond

Which major date now that you guys look forward to?
27 September gone
30 September gone
4 October gone
6 October gone

November 14th for the 5th anniversary of 2 DE?..

@Josh1Axel

One of my favorite times of the year is Halloween … But I doubt it’s a date the developers have in mind to show new content

At least we’ll be able to play the Halloween event with the Indians in AoEO…

@EliteRiflemann

I’m going to tell you the same thing I told the AoE3 guys, be patient (and we in AoE3 need patience, boy). The devs are working on several things right now, but they’re not forgetting anything, there will be news soon.

Yes, a lot of patience, as much as the Dalai Lama…

@Temudhun

Let’s be honest, the devs have missed all the free opportunities to create and feed the hype, but there’s definitely something being worked on. Probably not something 25th anniversary themed, because I can’t imagine they wouldn’t have announced it by now, but just another dlc like the previous ones. Going full doomsaying is a little bit ridiculous.

Yes, they will announce a normal DLC and that’s it…

@Darkness01101

Therefore, November 14th will certainly be the day

@zeppelino24

Hello, is there any chance that some DLC will come out this month, I ask because there are 3 DLCs on the way, AOE II DE, AOE III DE and AOM retold, and there are only 3 months left until the year ends so I feel that The most feasible thing would be to release 1 DLC per month or what do you think about it?

Yes, it sounds crazy, but I see it as likely… they announce the DLC on November 14th to release it in January (because December is going to be half full with AoE 3 and AoM)…

@FernandesI

Nothing was ever going to be announced at RBW because that is just not the way they do business.

Remember Victors and Vanquished. They announced an announcement, then they revealed the content of the DLC. All via blog and youtube. RBW has its own hype, but not new DLC kind of hype.

I understand the frustration but there is really no reason for that unless you believe devs should match your marketing expectations

@SMUM15236

I woke up in the morning, saw 52 new replies. I was like - This is it. Must be a discussion on new DLC. Well, I was wrong.

@ReelBigFishBoom

I doubt it, we might get the announcement this month but the earliest release date is likely November I would say

Yes, I always keep my expectations low just in case…

[PersiasRerising]

I just hope it will still be a big DLC. It now seams that 319 is the release date (day of the year) and not necessarily the total number of achievements. However, maybe it’s both.

[MUTYLATOR5553]

So you’re betting on November 15th?

[StarGazer07Bond]

2024 is a leap year.

[MUTYLATOR5553]

Oh, that’s right. I forgot about it.

[KHANATTILA]

@MatM1996

Yes, and the Woad Rider will be replaced by the Gallowglass…

That would be lovely. Some other adjustments could also be made.

[PersiasRerising]

Since Tyranno13 pointed out that only the main DE and return of Rome and V&V was changed on steamDB, one could conclude that none of the other DLC campaigns received Changes, so no new civs for these regions. The only close to China is dynasties of India. None of them is referring to Tibet and also no Thais are present in the campaigns. So both of them are still on the table. A lot of wishful thinking, but maybe it’s still the 5 civs of my wishlist.
And for return of Rome I hope for the last aoe1 campaigns.

[UNDISPUTED]

Yes - there was no language pack from what I noted for Thai. Only traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese.

However, perhaps I am not understanding it all correctly.

Another 3 civs from Sinosphere would be great, Jurchens among them as they are strongly requested.

A Balkan DLC with Saxons, Vlachs, and Serbs would be also great but most likely not happening now.

For anybody thinking Saxons irrelevant in the Balkans, please see Transylvanian Saxons - Wikipedia . They are one of (if not the) most dominant German tribes.

Keeping myself updated with all of yours excellent contributions to this thread.

[PersiasRerising]

To be honest, Thais are only on my radar because sprit of the law obviously left out any potential Thai elephant units.

[StarGazer07Bond]

@PersiasRerising

obviously left

He obviously forgot about it. Why making such a big fuss about it?

[PersiasRerising]

Because that’s what we do here, sir.