# Speculation for a Possible Middle Eastern DLC in the Near Future **URL:** \ **Category:** II - Discussion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719 "2026-09-17T20:08:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![AdmiralShoe961](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/admiralshoe961/32/78228_2.png) [@AdmiralShoe961](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/AdmiralShoe961)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/142 "2026-09-20T04:28:32Z")
> [@DynasticPlanet5](#): > > It’s just an odd “Civ” because isn’t it more like a giant outpost instead of a unique ethnicity or empire. It’s like European colonies > > It would be like having a Greenlander civ of Vikings which are just Vikings who settled and traded with natives in Greenland Vinland. They settled and traded with the natives of Vinland. When the Vikings settled Greenland it was empty, except for some seasonal Dorset hunting grounds in the very north. We do not know if the Vikings ever met them. Inuit’s came into Canada around 1100AC, and Greenland around 1300AC, killing the Dorset settlements along the way. The last known descendant of the original Viking settlers who still lived on Greenland was found dead in the snow during an expedition in 1540. Both Inuit stories, and runes found on Greenland tell of conflict, friendships, and renewed conflicts between the two populations. We do not know if the last Vikings there fled by sea, or were all killed, but in modern Inuit populations we do find what looks like some of their DNA. Should they be a civ, I don’t care, but they had a good 500 year run as a civilization. Facing more extreme circumstances than I hope most will ever have to. Isolation, droughts, permafrost, and invasions all at the same time. Calling them an outpost is not fitting. They held out for a long time. > [@TheTowerDefender](#): > > or like vikings, danes, and varangians… Or Burgundian’s and Franks, Teutons and Bohemians. We have many examples of it by now, and I think the community give the devs too much stress about it. They are doing a great job making a fun game, and the new civs look great. None of us agree with everything they do, sometimes they make mistakes, and that’s okay. You can’t please everyone. I still want you to have your classic mode. I’m never going to use it, but I want you to have fun too. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:12am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/143 "2026-09-20T05:12:27Z")
> [@smiki5five](#): > > Saracen strenghts (camels, almost full Barracks, Monks) seem to reflect the expansion of Islam during the Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates (someone even posted a photo of some guidebook from the time of the original release that basically confirmed this). What about the UU? Didn’t Abbasid the 1st dynasty that deployed the Mamelukes? > [@smiki5five](#): > > I had an idea for a “Naft Grenadier” / “Naphtha Thrower”(1) unit for some of the MENA civs replacing the Hand Cannons. Its regular form, available in the Castle Age, would be much weaker than its Jurchen cousin, but the Elite upgrade in the Imperial Age would match it (perhaps longer range?). IDK if I would like such changes for Saracens. ---
**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 7:29am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/144 "2026-09-20T07:29:35Z")
> [@MatM1996](#): > > Yes, the Byzantine Cheirosiphon in AoE 4 is a battering ram, but it shoots fire like the Fireship… they could use the Chinese flamethrower unit from the editor and make it a Iraqi UU… I’ve been thinking whether the Flamethrower scenario editor unit could actually be reworked as a Mangonel-line replacement for the Byzzies. The Naffatah would’ve been a foot soldier instead. > [@SMUM15236](#): > > What about the UU? Didn’t Abbasid the 1st dynasty that deployed the Mamelukes? I think it was, but the Saracen Mameluke unit isn’t really a Mameluke… ---
**Author:** ![MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/matm1996/32/29566_2.png) [@MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/MatM1996)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 12:58pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/145 "2026-09-20T12:58:05Z")
> [@smiki5five](#): > > I’ve been thinking whether the Flamethrower scenario editor unit could actually be reworked as a Mangonel-line replacement for the Byzzies. The Naffatah would’ve been a foot soldier instead. Yes, either one would work…if you could use it in AoE 2, the flamethrower would replace the battering ram or the mangonel for the Byzantines…in AoE 4 the flamethrower replaces the battering ram… ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/0/1/017b0d2dab2f4d41fbcd35939d5740e53dbad9b3.jpeg) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/3/c/3ce85cab6b0ca96aa32ea6380ccb9159afe9b364.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/146 "2026-09-20T13:38:57Z")
Were the pictures necessary? They bloat your points and you… ugh nevermind. But in the end? What does it serve other than to add more modeling work time for civs that work fine as is unless it goes to more than one Byz already has some of the most crossroad regionals as is. Let it be. If we ever get Balkans they’ll probably get that regional as well so no more for the games most balanced counter civ ---
**Author:** ![CountGriashnackh](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/countgriashnackh/32/178420_2.png) [@CountGriashnackh](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/CountGriashnackh)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/147 "2026-09-20T14:30:10Z")
Honestly I would prefer a central Asian DLC over a middle eastern one, we don’t honestly have much from that region and there’s good choices like the Turkomens who were obviously supposed to be part of Mountain Royals and other Turkic people like the Khazars and Uzbeks. The Alans since we don’t have a nomadic Iranian civ or another one proper Iranian like the Sogdians. You could even add the Tibetans since they fought a lot in central Asia or even the Tanguts since they lived around there. Though after all that stuff with the lawyers it’s probably unlikely A lot of interesting choices here. ---
**Author:** ![MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/matm1996/32/29566_2.png) [@MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/MatM1996)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/148 "2026-09-20T15:11:20Z")
> [@DynasticPlanet5](#): > > Were the pictures necessary? They bloat your points and you… ugh nevermind. It’s just to make the idea clear…😅 ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/149 "2026-09-20T22:49:41Z")
The issue with **Turk** omens is well, its sorta in the name. Even if imperfect, Oghuz doesn’t share the exact same first 4 letters of another civ. As for Tibet… just use their closest neighbors the Tuyuhan. Winnie The Pooh will never know the difference! But a big agree on everything else ---
**Author:** ![Crossil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/crossil/32/213977_2.png) [@Crossil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Crossil)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 6:07am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/150 "2026-09-21T06:07:35Z")
> [@DynasticPlanet5](#): > > The issue with **Turk** omens is well, its sorta in the name. Even if imperfect, Oghuz doesn’t share the exact same first 4 letters of another civ. Which is why using Azeris as the civ name might be better. Technically they had different polities and were at war, but somehow the Turcoman language became the Azeri language, replacing the Iranian Old Azeri. Somehow the Turcoman of Aq Qoyunlu and Qara Qoyunlu, despite failing to conquer the Azeri states, managed to have their language adopted by them? It’s all kinda weird, tbh, but Bulgars and Bulgarians are also represented by one civ. > [@DynasticPlanet5](#): > > As for Tibet… just use their closest neighbors the Tuyuhan. Winnie The Pooh will never know the difference! The Tanguts were not added specifically because they’re related to the Tibetans. I don’t think suitman will permit anything that serves as a proxy for the Tibetans. And Tuyuhun are Xianbei. ---
**Author:** ![LapinVicomte](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/lapinvicomte/32/215011_2.png) [@LapinVicomte](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/LapinVicomte)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/151 "2026-09-21T07:11:16Z")
> [@DynasticPlanet5](#): > > 吐雍罕 The Tuyuhun tribe were descendants of the Murong clan of the Xianbei people and belonged to the Mongolic language family. ---
**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 9:07am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/152 "2026-09-21T09:07:00Z")
> [@Crossil](#): > > I don’t think suitman will permit anything that serves as a proxy for the Tibetans. So when do we start a sh\*storm by contacting a bunch of gaming media outlets? ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 11:01am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/153 "2026-09-21T11:01:09Z")
> [@Civilization Concepts](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/civilization-concepts/284070/629): > > In the heat of all the speculations of Saracens split DLC in the near future, here is a design for Bedouins with an independent Pasture design: Team Bonus Cavalry Archer Units +2 attack bonus vs. Buildings. Civ Bonus Mill can train sheep at 25 food cost in 35/30/25/20 seconds in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. Blacksmith upgrades are free to research an age later they are available. Camel Rider and Cavalry Archer are +15% faster. UTs Cavalry Archers gold cost is reduced by 50%. (300 foo… ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/154 "2026-09-21T11:35:44Z")
Whatever it should be we shouldn’t wait for M$ to do the work for us. I’m still looking to make that team. So first we need a civ list: If it’s steppish: Alans: a nice crossroad steppe civ in the Caucuses with big Churches that also happened to go through Europe and into Africa. Wide net of Regionap units and buildings possible here. Sogdians: Settled Samarkandians. Could also be Samarkand after the fall of Sogdian empire itself. Major trade location worthy of Caravanserai and steppe lancers. Close relations with Persia to the point Persia was Samarkand in the Genghis campaign means possible Savar? Maybe elephants and rockets due to trade with Sinnic lands? Tajiks: Used elephants and steppe stuff. I smell potential for the first battle ele/camel civ? Saka: Saka cast a wide net. Going from the steppers to settling in parts of India. I have no idea how to perfect this tech tree. New Regional Unit: similar to the MXbow the Raider line starts as Scavenger, Plunderer then Raider replaces the scout cavalry for the most aggressive and nomadic civs in the game! Goths, Huns, Magyars (Corvid Army redirects it minor gold cost into food), Mongols (Nomads could effect them), Tatars, Jurchens, Wei, Vikings, Celts, Saxons, Danes, Berbers, Cumans. I’m not so sure about other civs like the Franks Teutons Burgundians or Vietnamese or Turks since they did eventually be more settled. what this unit sacrifices in a minor .025 speed of the Scout and very minor monk damage, line they make up for with a food plunder mechanic that can be swapped to wood or gold, and a bonus vs standard buildings AND they benefit from Arson… maybe the last one. ---
**Author:** ![Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/ekarlath/32/146833_2.png) [@Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Ekarlath)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/155 "2026-09-21T14:46:42Z")
> [@CountGriashnackh](#): > > Honestly I would prefer a central Asian DLC over a middle eastern one, My guesses are not based on what I’d like or not but at what could be legit. Everyone has preferences, everyone would prefer something to another, and that’s also why the game is still alive, everyone finds things time to time. Personnally I’m an history lover so everything is good to me, but if I’d have to give a preference it would be Romans, Pirates and Crusaders, not necessarly for the stories but for their battle style ahaha. I think Africa as the next dlc focus would be great, it’s a part of the world we don’t have many content in the game yet and I’m sure there is lots of things to tell. About Tibet, it seems there is something about this topic that makes it extremly contrevertial for Microsoft to deal with it, not sure it will have a content named after Tibet per say. Sadly money drives the world today, so if you want tibet content it’s probably modders that will have to do it but even there it can cause an extreme mess. Personnally I don’t have any political opinion when speaking about AoE2, it’s a game, for fun, about long gone history, not meant to carry any political messages or religious message what so ever. It’s a cool game where you’re replaying historical moment, not necessarly strictly as they were, but in a playable way. Content that can divide a community is not always the content to make, if you see what I mean. And by dividing I’m not saying haters vs non-haters but real split at a crazy level. Or maybe now is not the time to risk those topics, I mean everything can be done at the right given time and place, but not anytime. The Khazar are a good candidate, and will probably someday be added to the game. * * * Tomorrow we’ll have the patchnote, with screenshots, and be sure that I’m gonna study pixel per pixel to find eventual hints of future content ! I’ve missed the viking garrison flag last time, or at least I did not realize it was that big of a hint when I saw it, so this time I’m not gonna do the same mistake ahaha. ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/156 "2026-09-21T15:22:12Z")
> [@CountGriashnackh](#): > > Honestly I would prefer a central Asian DLC over a middle eastern one Me too. That will be my 2nd preference after Africa (any part). ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/157 "2026-09-21T15:26:52Z")
So I feel like nobody sees my post about the subject: let’s all form a team and make said Central DLC since we could probably do it better than the devs design wise ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:28am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/158 "2026-09-22T06:28:49Z")
> [@smiki5five](#): > > I think it was, but the Saracen Mameluke unit isn’t really a Mameluke Fair. Mameluke can be renamed as Scimitar Thrower if a new Mameluke unit is introduced. ---
**Author:** ![Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/skadidesu/32/172243_2.png) [@Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Skadidesu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 7:09am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/159 "2026-09-22T07:09:41Z")
It will probably just be a “Heath Trooper” situation again. Adding a new unit that is obviously a Mameluke but has a different name. Ghulam are technically already Mameluks with a different name. But I think unit names are secondary, their visuals and stats are more important. We all know that heath Troopers are the real Huskarls even if the UI shows a different combination of letters when we click on them. ---
**Author:** ![ÖmerBey](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/%C3%B6merbey/32/146888_2.png) [@ÖmerBey](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/%C3%96merBey)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/160 "2026-09-22T11:23:55Z")
> [@Skadidesu](#): > > Adding a new unit that is obviously a Mameluke but has a different name. Kölemen? Forum can predict next DLCs well by using hints. Is there a serious hint about a MENA DLC or pure speculation? I remember a video about people were talking about is a Saracens split possible in the future and I recently read a comment about next Ao3 DE DLC can be about Central Asia, Iran, Oman and it can effect theme of next AoE2 DE DLC too. Is there more hint? ---
**Author:** ![WhiteMagick4](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/whitemagick4/32/29597_2.png) [@WhiteMagick4](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/WhiteMagick4)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719/161 "2026-09-22T11:31:21Z")
AOE3 fans found some sort of hint about a Middle East-Central Asia DLC coming and if the devs are still doing themed expansions for their games like this year, it might mean a Middle East dlc for AOE2. [Previous page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719.md?page=7) [Next page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/speculation-for-a-possible-middle-eastern-dlc-in-the-near-future/289719.md?page=9)