Not what you want to see, but what you think the devs are going to do.
I don’t care what the devs are going to do, I want to see Aztecs.
Spain or an American civ, with the expansion being themed around “great explorer” civs.
It would be awesome to see a Vinland themed something or other, whether that’s a scenario or map type. Could even set up a future 2027 expansion themed on the Americas.
Maybe a water gameplay rehaul as well?
They already have a pole cavalry through KT to makes most sense to continue with that northern civs paired together
“Other European”: Spain.
It’ll be Danes and Poles as a big fuck you to AoE3.
Why is not Spanish on top?
You kind of need first Spain vs Aztec, Maya and Inca.
As for DLC I also would like to see more from Africa like Songhai.
Or maybe Scotland.
from the Reconquista and Imperial Era (Charles V, Tercios), with Santiago, Calatrava and Knights in the Castle Age, and Tercios in the Imperial Age.
In Age of Mythology, they’ve promised Aztecs as a new pantheon. Considering they’re still developing the models, and these won’t be released until the end of 2026, maybe they’ll share unit and architectural designs with the Age of Empires IV team to create Aztecs, similar to what happened with Sengoku Daimyo (AoE4) and Japanese Civilization (AoM:Re).
But, if they gonna release Aztec for 2026 or 2027, is something we don´t know.
From the new Chinese Campaign. Considering they gonna make a level with Mu Guiying (theory based in the promo image), who fought aggainst the Khitans, and considering that AoE2 has Khitans… maybe “KHITANS”? If not, maybe Jurchens, or even Koreans.
The Chinese need “Enemies” for their campaign, so they have to create more civs, apart from mongols, for that purpose. And to save resources, they gonna make one civ of them the 2nd civ of the 2026 DLC. If not, maybe for 2027.
If I had to guess I’d say probably Spanish or Aztecs just because that’s what most people seem to ask for and they often give us what we ask for.
I voted incorrectly, going by what I wanted to see.
But in reality, I think the same as our esteemed colleague @GoldenArmorX.
As already mentioned:
However, I would like to make a new suggestion, which has a lower probability, but could happen.
With the arrival of the Macedonians, who had Viking units, many players thought that we would never see a new Viking civilization again.
That Macedonia would be a “cheap” way to portray the Vikings.
However, now we have the pleasant surprise that in 2026 we will have a Viking civilization!
But now this feeling is focused on the “Ballista Elephant”.
With the arrival of the Tughlaq Dynasty, many thought it would be a “cheap way to ignore” and not develop the Khmer civilization.
Honestly, I’d like to think that the fact that they didn’t reveal the second new basic civilization is because it’s something no one expected for the year 2026… and the Khmer civilization would be a great surprise, at the same time a relief for many, because they wouldn’t leave them aside because of the Tughlaq Dynasty.
I know that the Khmer civilization possesses an elaborate and detailed architecture, the development of which will require a great deal of effort… however, this basic architecture of theirs could also be used by other future civilizations that shared regional influences of the time, such as the civilizations of Thailand and Champa. Thus, all this “work” in developing a detailed architecture could also be reused, but obviously, the other civilizations should have castles, towers, landmarks, and the “wonder” being totally unique to each one.
Whatever happens, I’ll be motivated for 2026.
Macedonian Dynasty should be greatly reworked
Otherwise it would feel like very odd to have 3 Varangian Civs in the game
I don’t see the need.
While researching, I found this information:
- They were an elite unit, the Varangian Guard, which served as personal bodyguards for the emperors of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire), and their formation and rise coincided with the period of the Byzantine Macedonian dynasty.
- Foundation and Service: The Varangian Guard was formally established around 988 by the Byzantine emperor Basil II. Basil II belonged to the Byzantine Macedonian dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire from 867 to 1056.
- Composition: The guard was mainly composed of Nordic warriors (Vikings) and, later, Anglo-Saxons, who traveled from regions such as Scandinavia and Kievan Rus’ to serve the emperor in Constantinople.
- Loyalty: The Byzantine emperors trusted the Varangians more than the native Byzantine troops because, being foreigners, they had no ties to the intrigues of the court and local political factions.
- Therefore, the Varangians served the Macedonian dynasty within the context of the Byzantine Empire, but they were not part of ancient Macedonian civilization.
In short, it’s accurately portrayed in the game. Why change something that actually existed?
Because gameplay wise is so uncovenient
What is gonna be the purpose of MD Pseudo-Vikings when you gonna get full Vikings with same Berserking abilities, features and troops in addition to unique music, voicelines and architecture set?
It makes no sense
What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.
If we’re going to take into account what you said… several civilizations that repeat styles would also have to be changed.
The game Age of Empires 4 is based on things that existed in real life, or at least, tries to get close to reality… and not things that they would like to add or remove simply because of “personal taste”.
I’ll be honest, it simply didn’t occur to me. In retrospect, Spain is an obvious one I should have included.
Now that’s a conspiracy theory I can get behind!
Here’s my wildcard:
The Inuit (refered to as Thule by archaelogists for AOEIV’s timespan)
Referred to by the Norse as Skrælingjar. The Thule Tradition spans pretty much all of AOEIV’s timespan.
They used bone armour, used (reinforced, complex) bows & arrows, clubs, knives, spears, bolas, harpoons, dog sleds and kayaks. They mined, traded and worked metal and their culture expanded over Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland and the Arctic Archipelago. They used skins, whale bones (including the jaws), wood and earth to build their houses (not just stereotypical igloo). They fought the Norse (as in Danes, Swedish and Norwegians), being one of the proponents to the Norsemen returning back to Europe, as well as dominating many other Northern American peoples.
Sled units instead of cavalry!
Umiaq Raiders (super big kayaks that were first used by the Thule culture)!
Harpooners!
Clubmen!
Impressive reinforced, cable-backed Bowmen!
Pairs well with the Vikings (though Norse is a better name ;), is an early interaction of Euros and the Americas (over the Spanish), and would show that the Inuit were a really successful, mobile people with some great tech and tactics considering the harsh enviroment they lived in.
Spain I hope. Man this game needs aztecs too.