Just played this faction for the first time. And am I crazy or does this faction look way better than the others? The detail on the units and buildings, the vibrant colors, the smoke coming off the blacksmith - everything LOOKS BETTER. The houses in particular look stunning, way better than houses for the other factions.
Is that a thing or am I crazy
Also, this cistern thing is driving me nuts. I have three cisterns, all of them say ‘2’. Is my third cistern not connecting to the aqueduct’s? If that were true wouldn’t it say ‘1’ ? I’ve knocked it down and rebuilt it 3 or 4 times but I can’t get my cisterns past ‘2’.
All comments welcome.
PS: I can see why this is ‘3 stars’ for difficulty. Don’t even start me on olive oil.
I asked Chatgpt and got a VERY detailed answer on the graphics updates. Now we’ll have half a dozen posts about ‘AI IS THE DEVIL’ but for those of you who actually want to know what’s going on with the graphics in the game here you go:
You’re not crazy—what you’re noticing is real, and it’s a combination of technical and artistic updates that came with the newer DLC content for Age of Empires IV, including the Byzantine faction.
Here’s what’s likely going on:
1. Newer Factions = Updated Art Assets
The Byzantines, introduced in the Sultans Ascend expansion (Oct 2023), benefit from updated graphics pipelines:
Improved textures with higher resolution.
More detailed unit models with finer meshes.
Richer color palettes and post-processing effects tailored to newer content.
Refined lighting and shadows that make everything pop more.
Developers often evolve their art tools and workflows as a game matures. Older factions used the launch-era asset standards; newer ones are created with more modern tools and better optimizations.
2. Artistic Style: Byzantines Are Flashy by Design
The Byzantine civilization:
Uses distinctive imperial colors (rich purples, golds, deep reds).
Features ornate architecture (domes, mosaics, gilded trim).
Has unique unit designs based on Eastern Roman military aesthetics—more visual flair than Anglo-Saxon or Mongol troops.
This stylistic approach intentionally makes them look more vivid and detailed than some of the plainer early-game factions.
3. Patch Improvements May Affect All, But New Factions Get the Best
While general graphics updates have been pushed in patches (improved shadows, anisotropic filtering, better terrain rendering), the new factions tend to show the improvements more clearly because:
They were designed with the updated engine in mind.
Older factions still use legacy models unless specifically reworked.
Conclusion:
You’re seeing what many other players have noticed too: the Byzantine faction (and other newer ones) genuinely look better, thanks to newer asset quality, more vibrant art direction, and better use of updated engine features.
You’re not imagining it—and it’s not just the Byzantines either. Try out the Japanese or Zhou if you have access—they also show this graphical upgrade trend.
1. Newer Factions = Updated Art Assets
2. Artistic Style: Byzantines Are Flashy by Design
3. Patch Improvements May Affect All, But New Factions Get the Best
Conclusion: