They said the same thing about the Knights of the Mediterranean DLC; I remember the official page announcing, “The final DLC for AoE III: DE is now available”—specifically using the word “final” to imply there wouldn’t be any more. It gives us an idea that they’re using that same slogan again—which, I reiterate, doesn’t actually mean anything. It’s just like the marketing for the Mediterranean DLC back then: “Embark on this exciting new adventure with two new civilizations—the Italians and the Maltese—discover new European maps, ally with different royal houses across Europe,” and so on—exactly what they’re doing now. In short, that kind of slogan doesn’t mean the game is coming to an end—especially not now that the free demo has been discontinued and the game’s price has gone up alongside the addition of extra civilization and cosmetic DLCs.
What we can certainly say is that AoE III is more alive than ever; it’s no coincidence that the developers are reconnecting with the community. They even let us test the beta for the new DLC—something they had never done before with an AoE III expansion—and they are actively listening to feedback from both content creators and players to improve the game. These are further signs that AoE III is making a comeback. I feel that the developers’ recent sales strategies are laying the groundwork for what lies ahead. While AoM: Retold got off to a great start, let’s be honest: it didn’t manage to surpass AoE III. I believe management eventually realized it wasn’t worth continuing to pour money into AoM: Retold, so they decided to return to AoE III, picking up where things left off back in 2024. We might see a new DLC for Retold next year, but let’s face it—DLC releases for that title will likely become increasingly scarce over time. In contrast, AoE III—bolstered by its solid base of veteran players and the newcomers who joined after the free demo—will provide the financial stability to support upcoming content, suggesting that there is likely more to come in the future.