What would we like to see for aoe2 in 2026?

Age of Empires II: DE II - Discussion
21

most Crusaders were Franks, Britons, Germans (represented by the Teutons), Poles, Czechs, Italians etc. they are represented. At most one “Kingdom of Jerusalem” or “Crusaders” civ, but even then they are more of a political entity than a civilization, also didn’t even last for 200 years.

no

no

make them optional/official mods

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22

I would prefer mounted xbowman.

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23

I think it would be great if Age of Empires II: DE had regional reskins for the basic military lines (infantry, cavalry, archery) as well as villagers. I’m not suggesting a unique skin for every single civilization, but at least for each region. For example, a British Champion shouldn’t look the same as a Mongolian one, and villagers shouldn’t all share the same look regardless of civilization.

I know it might be unlikely to happen, but it feels like the right time for a change like this and it would add a lot of historical flavor and visual variety without altering gameplay balance.

4 Likes
24
  • Replace the cavalry archer for Western European civs with a mounted crossbowman.
  • Goths gain Mediterranean architecture.
  • Persia gains Central Asian architecture.
  • Spanish, Portuguese, and Sicilian gain the jinete.
  • Addition of culverins or other gunpowder weapons.
  • Regional troops.
  • Rework of navigation and ships.

and more….

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25

Wow, I always thought I was the only one wishing a switch of Goths to the Mediterranean architecture. I must say the new castle is satisfying.
I agree with central asian architecture for Persians…

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26

Georgians and Armenians architecture change as well.

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27

Architecture sets :

  • Steppe (Mongols Huns Cumans Khitans)
  • Medieval Chinese (Chinese Koreans Vietnamese Jurchens)
  • Ancient Chinese (3K)
  • Byzantine (Byzantines Bulgarians Armenians Georgians)
  • Roman (Romans Goths)
  • Northern European (Vikings)
  • Baltic (Poles Lithuanians)

(some other tweaks such as Persians => Central Asian and Bohemians => Central European)

4 Likes
29

Ability to add new modded civs without replacing old civs.

6 Likes
30

New Architecture sets and campaigns for civs without campaign would be good additions.

4 Likes
31

Announcement of a 3rd remake of the game targeting October 2027 - 30th Year Anniversary.

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32

If that’s what takes to remove 3K from main game, I am up for it!

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33

I was thinking this for an year now. Though it is literally the main reason for me. 11

2 Likes
34

Ah yeah that’s one of the UU I’ve think is missing to the game, a mounted Xbow one. Could be pretty cool.

3 Likes
35

:joy::joy::joy:

So funny! (20 characters)

36

tbf, if we lower the graphics expectations an indie studio could build a aoe2 clone fairly easily. especially if they restrict themselves to a smaller set of civs

37

I don’t know when something new might come… but the chance is there… AoE2 sells well, and we’ve already had two re-releases (HD and DE versions). I wouldn’t put it past a third re-release in the future.

I just hope that if it ever happens, it comes with:

  • A new graphics engine, now in 3D (and realistic physics included).
  • With the new engine, it’s expected that the Mongols will now be able to use their horses to fire arrows while moving, and that this will be done for other units, such as the elephant archers, who can also attack at close range and fire at the same time. In addition, there will be some new movements/attacks for cavalry and other units, as seen in more recent games in the AoE series.
  • A new AI. I hope to see the AI ​​move as an entire army, just like in AoE4.
  • I hope all previous DLCs for HD and DE versions will be released together. (The HD version did this, and the DE version did the same, so I hope they keep it.)
  • New full skin packs for all basic units. Create multiple skin packs, and each architecture set should have its own pack (not for broad regions, but for each architecture set). Each architecture set should have its own unit skins, so they would look much better and closer to real life. (Believe me, this would attract a lot of attention from any player, in addition to attracting new players, especially since everything is in 3D and with real physics.)
  • The Dravidian civilization should be divided into several kingdoms, thus gaining a new architecture and a new regional unit (the kingdoms could be: Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara). This could be the first DLC for a AoE2 in 3D with a new engine.
38

hahahahaha :joy::joy:. We have AoE IV, II’s remake
Have you forget it?
Just kidding

AoE II as it is in 3D would not ever happen

39

The 2D of AOE2 allows a clean timeless style (sometimes it looks like a painting) and 3D really wouldn’t add much, it would be a gimmick. Which would add nothing, while AOE2 can be proud of being over quarter of century old : “all my competitors from that time are gone and I’m still going strong”

Graphically what AOE2 needs is doubling down on visual variety : more architecture styles (I made my short list above), regional unit skins, fixing the ships (give them all sails & oars animations, sinking animations…), possibly more variations in attack animations as was already done for infantry… I’m greedy when it comes to visuals but if I want to turn that to 11, how about giving building different collapse animations depending on the damages it suffers, such as buildings fully catching fire if damaged by regular units or having a catastrophic collapse if hit by siege engines ?

I wouldn’t go so far as to ask for real-time simulation of damages but… aim for the stars to reach the moon :upside_down_face:

5 Likes
40

More civs! We need 200 total before the decade is over. Can never have too many civs. The game shouldn’t get any other updates

Put all hands on deck to crank out more civs. I hope the next public roadmap just shows civs, civs, civs! :heart:

41

Rsrsrsrs

Really, I think it’s very unlikely that AoE2 will be remade 100% in 3D. It’s just a dream; I must have had too much to drink today.

But I still think AoE2DE’s graphics are blurry, even with that 4K graphics pack.

There’s still at least one more step to climb and reach the maximum possible.

I wanted more clarity… without any blur, smudges, or pixelation.

I’d like to see the details of armor and weapons with the greatest visibility they could provide. Obviously, other additional improvements could come, like improved physics and so on.
Especially if there are several skin packs for units, across different civilizations… being able to see them clearly would be incredible.

It’s already improved a lot… but it still has one more step to go… =P

I think if we managed to reach the Moon, I’d fall off my chair with excitement… rsrsrs