It seems that since around 2019, the main studio responsible for the development and operation of Age of Empires IV has been World’s Edge. I won’t comment on how they’ve handled other games, but since 2021, the problems with AoE4 have become increasingly clear. Here’s my own summary:
1. Poor technical optimization
The engine has always been underwhelming, a problem that goes back to AoE4’s early development under Relic. But the real issue is this: three years later, World’s Edge has still not delivered any substantial improvements. Performance remains stuck at the initial level—unstable framerates, excessive memory usage, slow load times. It seems they haven’t invested any real resources into solving these fundamental issues, preferring instead to cover them up or avoid them entirely.
2. Gameplay and design problems
AoE4 launched under the banner of “civilization asymmetry,” promising to distinguish itself from its predecessors by emphasizing uniqueness. But through years of tinkering and endless adjustments, that uniqueness has been eroded. On the surface, civilizations look different, but in practice, combat feels nearly identical. By now, unit differences and strategic choices are so shallow that what remains is largely cosmetic. The “skin” of each civ may differ, but the “bones” are all the same—hollowed out, with only visual distinctions left.
And here we are in 2025, with the population cap still at 200. Doesn’t this show that World’s Edge never intended to address the AI and engine limitations that prevent higher caps? Going above 200 causes severe pathing bugs in unit formations, though single-unit AI movement works fine. This is a basic issue that has existed for years—why hasn’t it been fixed?
3. Lack of battlefield atmosphere and gameplay depth
Combat feedback is weak, the battlefield lacks atmosphere, pacing is monotonous, and gameplay feels mechanical. Map design—once the soul of RTS—has become increasingly formulaic, dominated by symmetrical, “esports-friendly” layouts. This design choice has hollowed out the strategic depth of the game, stripping away the variety and enjoyment that RTS should offer.
4. Broken AI logic
The AI is nearly unusable when it comes to pathfinding and logic. The most notorious example is the pilgrim issue: they only walk in straight lines. Even if a sacred site is on a hill, they’ll get stuck at the base rather than finding an alternate path. This perfectly illustrates the AI’s fundamental flaws. Some claim this is “map-dependent,” but that only proves maps have to compensate for bad AI—it doesn’t excuse the fact that the AI itself is broken.
5. Low update frequency and poor quality
Patches arrive late, long-standing issues remain unfixed, and new content is scarce to the point of content drought. Community feedback is either ignored or addressed months later with token fixes. The pace and quality of development are shockingly low—hardly what you’d expect from a studio under Microsoft.
6. Unprofessional balancing
Balance changes swing wildly—either overdone or inadequate—with no long-term vision. Worse, World’s Edge seems to have no coherent philosophy for balance. They patch reactively: some civs are nerfed into uselessness, while others dominate unchecked. The result is a cycle of imbalance that repeats endlessly.
7. Severe DLC homogenization
DLCs have become increasingly repetitive, heavily reliant on asset reuse and reskins. These so-called “new factions” are little more than recycled content cobbled together. Core gameplay and quality are diluted with each release. What looks like “new content” is really just superficial repackaging. Instead of extending the game’s lifespan, this practice accelerates its hollowing out.
8. No roadmap or commitments
To this day, World’s Edge has never provided a clear, long-term roadmap. They ignore core player demands: UI improvements, combat feedback, meaningful map design, even basic map details like vegetation. The production quality has fallen so far that many maps are barren—empty terrain with no foliage—far below the standard seen at launch. These issues have never been taken seriously. I honestly don’t know what they’re doing, but it raises serious questions about their resource allocation and project management.
9. Lack of innovation and accountability
World’s Edge shows no vision, no creativity, and no sense of responsibility. They have built no meaningful technical foundation. The so-called “variant civilization DLCs” are nothing but low-cost, short-term cash grabs designed for maximum profit with minimum effort. They keep milking scraps, draining player patience while never considering long-term development or brand reputation. This approach is not only short-sighted—it’s self-destructive.
Of course, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad without certain segments of the AoE4 community—the so-called “fanboy loyalists.” For years, their blind praise and flattery have enabled World’s Edge’s complacency, short-sightedness, and self-indulgence. Their unconditional support has normalized mediocrity and allowed the game to reach this sorry state.
