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Writer's pictureMcScratchey

Age of Empires IV: Dive Into the Epic ‘Sultans Ascend’ Expansion with New Civilizations and Maps

Updated: Jun 29

Get Ready for the Epic 'Sultans Ascend' Expansion in Age of Empires IV

Man, it’s tough not to get super hyped about the upcoming Age of Empires IV expansion, Sultans Ascend. This thing's gonna be a game-changer with new maps, biomes, and civilizations. Plus, we're getting a fresh campaign that’s loaded with action.

The European Crusaders ride by horse and walk on foot in this illustration, for the game Age of Empires 4
The Sultans Ascend

All About the New 8-Mission Campaign

If you love diving into thrilling single-player campaigns, then you're gonna flip for this one. Sultans Ascend will plunge you into an eight-mission campaign set in the Middle East during the Crusades. But here’s the kicker – it’s the first AoE IV campaign with naval gameplay!


What’s the Campaign About?

You’ll be taking on the role of the Muslim resistance, fighting off Crusader invasions, protecting Jerusalem, and reclaiming key cities. The vibe is totally Aladdin-esque which adds this unique charm to the game. Imagine commanding naval fleets while defending historical cities. It’s gonna be intense, but in a good way.


The new campaign digs deep into a sensitive period in history, and it doesn’t shy away from showing how influential religion was back then. The battles are sure to be epic, but let's hope it’s all done respectfully.


Introducing Two New Civilizations: Japanese & Byzantines

One of the coolest parts of Sultans Ascend is that we get to play with two new civilizations: the Japanese and the Byzantines.


Unleashing the Samurai and Shinobi

The Japanese civilization is all about the Samurai age. These guys excel at offensive war tactics, and their Samurai units are quick and deadly. We also get Shinobi units for those sneaky espionage missions, which sounds awesome for disrupting enemy plans.

Japanese civilization in the new Sultans Ascend expansion, for the game Age of Empires 4
The Japanese Civilization

Byzantine Brilliance

Then there’s the Byzantines, the masters of defense with strategies honed over their thousand-year empire. Their defenses are gonna be tough to crack, and I’m stoked to see what unique abilities they bring to the table.


Four New Variant Civilizations Are Coming

As if new civs weren't enough, we’re also getting four new variant civilizations:


– A spin on the Abbasid Dynasty

– A variant of the Chinese civilization

– For all you French civilization fans

– A fresh take on the Holy Roman Empire

Each one comes with its special units and strengths, so you can bet this’ll add a whole new layer of strategy to the game. Plus, the new mechanics like building aqueducts and cisterns, and hiring mercenaries, will bring even more depth.


A peaceful farming town of the The Byzantine Civilization in the game Age of Empires 4
The Byzantine Civilization

Gameplay Impact

These new civilizations and variants are guaranteed to shake up how you approach each match. The unique synergies and strategic options mean you can try new methods and keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.


10 New Maps: Fresh Battlefields

The expansion’s serving up ten brand new maps. This is a big deal because each map has different terrain and layouts, meaning new challenges and strategies. Whether it’s an endless desert or a lush forest, mastering these new environments will be key to claiming victory.


Explore Two New Biomes

Get ready to roam through the Savanna and Japanese Spring biomes. The Savanna is stunning, full of wide-open landscapes, while the Japanese Spring is all about gorgeous cherry blossoms. These biomes aren’t just eye candy; they’ll also demand you to tweak your strategies to adapt to their unique features.


Unlockable Rewards? Heck Yeah.

The exact loot in the expansion is still kinda mysterious, but if we go by past experiences, we can expect some cool monuments, portraits, and maybe other goodies. Unlocking stuff always feels like a win, so I’m excited to see what we’ll get.


Mark Your Calendar!

Circle November 14th on your calendar because that’s when the Sultans Ascend expansion drops. This content is shaping up to be epic, so get ready for some serious battles and new adventures!

A Naval battle from The Sultans Ascend expansion campaign, Age of Empires 4
The New Campaign Offers Naval Battles!

For more updates, check out the official Xbox blog. Trust me, you don’t wanna miss out on this one.



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