A popular strategy game on Steam is getting a DLC with two new factions, and one of them you know from a legendary game series.
Which game is being talked about? We are referring to Age of Empires 4: The latest installment in the legendary strategy game series and one of the currently most played RTS games on Steam (via steamdb.info). In a new trailer, the developers briefly showcase all the new content of the DLC “Knights of Cross and Rose”.
You can watch the trailer for the DLC here:
Age of Empires now lets you play the arch enemies of the Assassins
What’s included in the DLC? The centerpiece consists of the two new playable factions: the Knights Templar and House Lancaster. And yes, the Knights Templar are exactly the order that fans of Assassin’s Creed have been battling against for ages – at least in the older parts of the series.
These factions are referred to as “variant civilizations”. This means they share some aspects with already existing civilizations in the game – the Knights Templar share elements with the French, while House Lancaster shares with the British. Nevertheless, both factions are said to offer their own gameplay mechanics and a variety of special units.
The Knights Templar utilize a mix of European military traditions and are thus well-rounded. In contrast, Lancaster builds a flourishing economy that can be invested in technological advantages.
Also included in the DLC are:
- 4 historical battles that you can complete for medals
- An optional Conqueror Mode that makes the historical battles even more challenging
- 10 new maps for skirmishes against AI and multiplayer mode
When is the DLC coming out? Age of Empires 4: Knights of Cross and Rose will be released on April 8, 2025, for PC on Steam, in the Microsoft Store, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Xbox Game Pass owners can play Age of Empires 4 at no additional cost. On Steam, the base game currently costs only €15.99 – but only for a limited time. So if you don’t own Age of Empires 4 yet or want to persuade friends, now would be a good opportunity.
At the beginning of March, Age of Mythology Retold also received a new DLC. The remake dares to bring the Chinese pantheon into the game for the second time – this time with success. More about that can be read here: A DLC from Age of Mythology was “mostly negative” back then – now it will be released in a new version, costing 20 euros
