# Xbox layoffs impacting AoE? **URL:** \ **Category:** II - Discussion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497 "2026-07-06T17:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Companq](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/companq/32/216964_2.png) [@Companq](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Companq)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/61 "2026-09-25T01:19:29Z")
watch out: ego battle ensues ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/62 "2026-09-25T01:27:37Z")
> [@MadMax8915](#): > > I think the only way to surpass Age of Empires 2 would be to create a **3D remake with realistic physics and beautiful graphics.** > Add some new physics mechanics, more polished skins, and smoother animations, while keeping everything else the same. > Create regional or cultural skins for all units—including villagers—for each civilization group. > Expand support and improve the AI ​​so it can form and control armies more realistically, and include “personality” options for the AI ​​to create more variety. Aoe3 is what you are referring. ---
**Author:** ![MadMax8915](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/madmax8915/32/158089_2.png) [@MadMax8915](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/MadMax8915)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/63 "2026-09-25T01:34:47Z")
> [@Mahazona](#): > > Aoe3 is what you are referring. Age of Empires 3 is amazing, but it depicts a different time period and features gameplay that differs from Age of Empires 2. ---
**Author:** ![AlphaCreator727](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/alphacreator727/32/62674_2.png) [@AlphaCreator727](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/AlphaCreator727)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/64 "2026-09-25T02:16:25Z")
Are we sure is about AoE5? It could be something else, another DLC perhaps? ---
**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 25, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/65 "2026-09-25T04:15:39Z")
I heard pros like Hera and TheViper say this. ---
**Author:** ![Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vindy/32/185894_2.png) [@Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Vindy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/66 "2026-09-25T05:02:11Z")
> [@WhiteMagick4](#): > > Originally wanted AOE2 people to move to AOE4 (same Medieval theme) but it did not work. Had they made unit movements, and win conditions more similar to AoE2, and less similar to AoE3 it may have worked. I played one match of AoE4 online, and died when someone destroyed _some_ of my buildings. It’s a terrible win condition. If they wanted to catch the attention of Aoe2 players they didn’t put much thought into it. ---
**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 25, 2026, 5:36am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/67 "2026-09-25T05:36:46Z")
“New game project” is not just a DLC. It doesn’t have to be AoE5 of course, it could be AoM2 or something totally different of course. ---
**Author:** ![TheTowerDefender](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/thetowerdefender/32/194640_2.png) [@TheTowerDefender](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/TheTowerDefender)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/68 "2026-09-25T12:14:22Z")
age of empires: beyond earth ---
**Author:** ![SvenKuechler1](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/svenkuechler1/32/201563_2.png) [@SvenKuechler1](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SvenKuechler1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/69 "2026-09-25T18:39:27Z")
hem si sabes que en age of empires 3 se puede desactivar la victoria por monopolio comercial en partida estandar no? pero en el 3 se creo el monopolio comercial para obligar a la gente a pelear y que los ratas que se esconden en una esquina no hagan perder el tiempo ---
**Author:** ![SurfaceTen38](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/surfaceten38/32/81180_2.png) [@SurfaceTen38](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SurfaceTen38)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/70 "2026-09-25T19:17:52Z")
This has literally been the reality since the 3 Kingdoms DLC anyway. And nothing of value was lost ---
**Author:** ![Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vindy/32/185894_2.png) [@Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Vindy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/71 "2026-09-25T20:37:43Z")
Trade victory in AoE3 is fine, but the religious site victory in AOE4 is dumb. I don’t like wonders in any of them, but in AoE4 you lose if all of these wonders are destroyed. In AoE2 I can lose my base 7 times and still win. AoE3 permanently nerf you for losing it once, and AoE4 makes it impossible. Not all civs need to be good at it, but an RTS without comeback mechanics is a bad RTS. ---
**Author:** ![SvenKuechler1](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/svenkuechler1/32/201563_2.png) [@SvenKuechler1](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SvenKuechler1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/72 "2026-09-25T20:46:53Z")
mmm 50/50 eso depenede, no creo que te interese el Canal de Psionic o Lion Heart que suben partidas de aoe 3, pero se mandan unas remontadas bien buenas en varios casos, te los recomiendo en caso de que un dia quieras intentar ver un poco de aoe 3, aunque sea por aburrimiento. Ademas por eso te digo, el monopolio comercial solo se diseño para esos jugadores rata que buscan alargar demasiado una partida a sabiendas incluso que con suerte tienen un aldeano y en cuanto a aoe 4… no dire nada relmente le di el beneficio de la duda y no me gusto, creo que al jugar 100 horas tratando de converserte que te gusta es margen suficiente,no? ---
**Author:** ![Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vindy/32/185894_2.png) [@Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Vindy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/73 "2026-09-25T21:00:04Z")
At some point it’s a waste of time. I play near exclusively FFA and co-op, and in these gamemodes comeback mechanics are a big part of the game. In 1v1 a cockroach player can be annoying if they take it too far, but in other gamemodes it’s often an expected and valued part of the game. Surviving and coming back is fun, even when your opponent is doing it. ---
**Author:** ![SvenKuechler1](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/svenkuechler1/32/201563_2.png) [@SvenKuechler1](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SvenKuechler1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/74 "2026-09-25T21:16:10Z")
no si yo te entiendo por algo el monopolio comercial se activa solo si se cumplen ciertos requisitos 1: Que controles mas de la mitad de los puestos comerciales (ojo una vez activo ya no puedes construir puestos comerciales nuevos hasta que te destruyan 1) 2: estar en la edad industrial. 3: por ultimo debes pagar 500 de cada recurso para activarlo (por algo te dije que es una medida anti ratas que solo se esconden xd) ---
**Author:** ![Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vindy/32/185894_2.png) [@Vindy](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Vindy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/75 "2026-09-25T21:20:16Z")
I like trade victory. Much better than wonders in AoE2. Wonder victory you get by sitting in your base, and trade victory you get by taking the map. ---
**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 26, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/76 "2026-09-26T01:12:56Z")
> [@Dynamo1281](#): > > It looks like World’s Edge is now going to be under the Activision umbrella, and some more people are getting fired. > [@SirBarnzy1](#): > > 268 people given the heave-ho ☹ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QNw-dqLr0qA/maxresdefault.jpg "musica funebre") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNw-dqLr0qA&list=RDQNw-dqLr0qA) > [@PersiasRerising](#): > > If they only sell regional skins, I would be fine. > > But I run a scenario through AI and it looks way worse. > > XP grinding for new civs > > Battle passes > > Cosmetic sales > > Campaigns and civs in separate DLCs > > Maybe even using different developers than forgotten empires. > > The deep, community-driven historical passion might be replaced by corporate metrics. Studios like Forgotten Empires might be pushed aside or strictly micromanaged by Activision executives to prioritize high-margin digital items over mechanical depth. Yes, literally this…😔 ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/3/1/31163c142b875100a86276924b64b8aed391541a.jpeg) > [@Skadidesu](#): > > If we look at recent games published by Activision we notice they haven’t published much other then Call of Duty since 2020 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_Activision\_games:\_2020–present](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Activision_games:%5C_2020%E2%80%93present) And that worries me… > [@Skadidesu](#): > > So AoE5 is dead? Damn, that’s not good. Yes, I agree…it gives me the creeps… > [@MadMax8915](#): > > When restructuring and cutbacks occur, the focus is on preserving the “golden goose” and targeting new projects with high long-term profit potential. > > Based on my own analysis and what I’ve seen from other analysts— > If we look at this from a cold, corporate perspective—focusing strictly on numbers, profit margins, and growth: > > - Everything points to _Age of Empires II_ remaining safe. > Sure, there might be some drop in quality, but I wouldn’t worry about that just yet. Certainly continue to receive DLCs, simply because it sells well and the production costs are relatively low. > > - Development on a future _Age of Empires V_ will likely continue. > Now, the teams involved in other games in the series that were affected by the restructuring will likely be reassigned to provide full support for this new _Age of Empires V_ project. > New projects like _Age of Empires V_ will shape the series’ future, so the priority is to target higher profits and expand. > > - However, _Age of Empires III_ and _Age of Mythology_ will unfortunately likely suffer as a result. > I don’t want to give false hope, but their sales figures are very low compared to the other titles. The investment isn’t justified if the goal is growth and cost-cutting. > > - As for Age of Empires IV, I would say we might see a reduction in the number of DLCs. That said, I believe they will try to keep the game active, while constantly monitoring and analyzing sales and production costs. And that’s what worries me… the saga can’t survive on just one game, even though AoE 2 is the most played. One mistake and they’ll ruin the saga and send it back into obscurity like it was in the late 2000s…🙄 > [@MadMax8915](#): > > According to this link… > > If this “new project” that was cancelled or shelved refers to _Age of Empires V_, then my prediction was wrong. > They aren’t even going to try to invest in continuing the franchise. > I hope the team gets reassigned and that, sometime soon, they move forward. > [@WhiteMagick4](#): > > They probably cancelled AOE5 because of the AOE4 sales. Originally wanted AOE2 people to move to AOE4 (same Medieval theme) but it did not work. AOE4 is a different game. Additionally, AOE4 failed to build a fan base because their DLCs were mostly civ variants and not new civs. Making new civs in AOE4 is expensive because the units have way too many voicelines. > > AOE4’s sales are a wrong message to receive from Activision. AOE5 should be about WWI or WWII or the modern ages. But they might not want something to compete with Starcraft 2 in theme. > > It is safe to assume that Activision will focus on developing new DLCs for the existing games based on the sales of this year’s DLCs. But future DLCs will become more predatory. i.e. 1-2 civs per dlc, at 10-15 euros each and they will be 4 dlcs per year. That’s why…they are or will kill the saga for money…🙄 > [@Skadidesu](#): > > Starting from today we can blame Activision for every bad decision? That has applied at least since 2013 with CoD, so why not?..😂 > [@MuscleChad](#): > > Look up 0 A.D. by Wildfire games and Spring RTS engine. I approve of that… > [@cs-mark](#): > > maybe, but alot like campaigns and they are short on the ground really compared to 2 and they already acknowledged that more than they expected just do single player and for me aoe 4 is more an online game for competitive play. That applies to AoE 3 as well, but at least the DLCs for AoE 4 include campaigns, only these are 9 scenarios instead of 15 like in AoE 2…🙄 > [@MadMax8915](#): > > → I think the only way to surpass Age of Empires 2 would be to create a **3D remake with realistic physics and beautiful graphics.** > Add some new physics mechanics, more polished skins, and smoother animations, while keeping everything else the same. > Create regional or cultural skins for all units—including villagers—for each civilization group. > Expand support and improve the AI ​​so it can form and control armies more realistically, and include “personality” options for the AI ​​to create more variety. > It would be crucial to maintain full mod support, just like in AoE2. > Maybe then it could be surpassed. Basically AoE 2 in the 3DE engine or in Unreal Engine 5 like Ancestors Legacy…😅 > [@MadMax8915](#): > > In a few years, new generations of players might prefer playing a different Age of Empires game set in a different historical period. > That’s possible too, since we’re getting old. Hahaha. And yes, that’s just how it is…😅 > [@Mahazona](#): > > Aoe3 is what you are referring. > [@MadMax8915](#): > > Age of Empires 3 is amazing, but it depicts a different time period and features gameplay that differs from Age of Empires 2. Therefore, a medieval Age of Empires 3… > [@AlphaCreator727](#): > > Are we sure is about AoE5? It could be something else, another DLC perhaps? Nobody knows, but it’s possible… > [@Vindy](#): > > Had they made unit movements, and win conditions more similar to AoE2, and less similar to AoE3 it may have worked. I played one match of AoE4 online, and died when someone destroyed _some_ of my buildings. It’s a terrible win condition. That’s because that game had the normal victory option (landmarks) enabled; if your opponent destroys all your landmarks, including the Town Center, you lose… > [@Skadidesu](#): > > “New game project” is not just a DLC. It doesn’t have to be AoE5 of course, it could be AoM2 or something totally different of course. Yes, also…if it was AoM 2 it would hurt more… > [@TheTowerDefender](#): > > age of empires: beyond earth Basically, the Chinese campaign in EE1 AoC…😂 > [@Vindy](#): > > but the religious site victory in AOE4 is dumb Yes, they got that from the victory by ruins in AoE 1 (and the zone captures in Relic’s games)… > [@Vindy](#): > > I like trade victory. Much better than wonders in AoE2. Wonder victory you get by sitting in your base, and trade victory you get by taking the map. Exactly, and it makes sense that they implemented it since it’s so you can gain control of the map in the New World and make everything more dynamic… ---
**Author:** ![PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/persiasrerising/32/137537_2.png) [@PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PersiasRerising)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 8:38am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/77 "2026-09-26T08:38:10Z")
I would really like to know how much a DLC costs and what it brings in. After all, multiple hundred people work on aoe and make a living out of it. Just thinking out loud: Aoe 4, AOM and aoe3 have many different models, that need to be coded for a new civ. On the other hand, especially for aoe3 there is the mod age of the word, where one guy made a bunch of civs by himself, and age of pirates, where a small team made a lot of new maps, natives and game mechanics. And they don’t get paid for it. So I guess even for the games with more diverse designed civs, the cost of making a dlc is not that high… For aoe2, let’s look at what is needed of a DLC for at least 1 civ: - A history text: not expensive, easily done - A bunch of AI player names: not expensive, easily done - A new tech tree: takes some effort to balance, but manageable. I guess they have some kind of formula for it by now to check for balance. - Civ bonuses and unique technology: same as the tech tree, if no new game mechanics is introduced, it’s mostly some math I would guess. - A civ emblem and UI picture: 2 small pictures should not be too expensive and easily made. (Not saying it’s not art) - A new waypoint flag: basically same as the civ emblem in terms of effort, if not less. - A new civ music: a bit more effort, but it seems they have an external partner for that. So it’s basically a fix cost. - New voice lines: for a new language, voice actors Are needed. I don’t know how much that would cost, but it’s not too many lines they have to speak. - New unique units: they need a new model. So that’s the same as for the other aoe games, but we need much less new models. Therefore, in relation, it would be still cheaper to design a aoe2 civ then in any other age game. - New Castle and Wonder: aoe2 has 2D buildings that only act like 3D, when they get destroyed. I don’t know if this is better or worse in terms of cost compared to a 3d model. But 2 buildings should be manageable. - (Optional) New architecture: a bit more effort than just a castle and wonder. Maybe that’s the reason we didn’t get many new architecture models before chronicles set a new standard. It often also comes with new models for the king, Monk, trade chart, merchant. But most civs ideas could fit in existing architecture. - Campaign: I think that is the biggest contributer to the cost. Several maps are needed with triggers and a thought out story. The intro and outro of each mission needs some graphics plus a narrator in every supported language. Also for in mission dialogues (multiple voice actors). Then there are new hero Models and often new eyecandy (which are mostly 2D pictures). The missions also come in 5 difficulty settings and need more testing than civ balance I would guess. With that I would assume the campaign is by far the most expensive item and I estimate it is far over 50 percent of the total cost for a new civ. - (Only chronicles): a into and outro video. I remember a report that chronicles was relatively expensive. I guess it’s not only the video but it’s focus on a long campaign. Of course they had also a lot of new models and architecture, where I am again not sure how much effort that would be. With all that said: if a company wants to continue earning with aoe2, I could imagine the number of missions and campaigns going down but adding more stand alone civs. Chronicles is based on the rome at war mod. While not all civs are copies, they resemble them a lot. Also, many of their unique units are already in the game as scenario Editor units. It would be easy to add a bunch of chronicles civs out of the mod with the models already ready. This could then start a new ranked system in chronicles, that could later, with added balance, merge with the mainline ranked to boost sales. Unfortunately, the past has shown that only ranked civs boost sales, even though ranked players are the ones mostly not wanting new civs. They could also sell regional or even unique unit skins for the Civs, but I am not sure this would be as cheap and as successful. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 10:02am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/78 "2026-09-26T10:02:27Z")
> [@PersiasRerising](#): > > They could also sell regional or even unique unit skins for the Civs, but I am not sure this would be as cheap and as successful. They would need to figure out how to lock these assests for people without the dlc.If mods start releasing these for free they will have to police every submitted mod or ban modding entierly. ---
**Author:** ![GorbMort](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/gorbmort/32/29103_2.png) [@GorbMort](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/GorbMort)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/79 "2026-09-26T10:08:48Z")
> [@WhiteMagick4](#): > > Additionally, AOE4 failed to build a fan base In what universe does this hold true? It remains at double AoE III: DE’s concurrent Steam player count. AoE III absolutely has a fanbase, it’d be silly to suggest otherwise. Therefore, IV does as well. (obviously, so does II - unlike some, I’m not interested in tearing down select AoE games just because I don’t prefer them) ---
**Author:** ![PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/persiasrerising/32/137537_2.png) [@PersiasRerising](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PersiasRerising)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497/80 "2026-09-26T10:09:50Z")
I think that is easy solved. The boght skins show up for the opponent as well, while regional skins only show up for the player. And they have a system blocking mods of adding one Civs. Same thing could be used here [Previous page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497.md?page=3) [Next page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/xbox-layoffs-impacting-aoe/287497.md?page=5)