Upcoming Age of Empires Titles Embrace Unreal Engine 5 Technology

The Age of Empires franchise, beloved for decades in the real-time strategy community, is gearing up for a new chapter with several fresh titles under development. Industry insiders and job postings from developer World's Edge reveal that these future games will harness the power of Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant technical upgrade for the series.

What the Shift to Unreal Engine 5 Means

Unreal Engine 5 is widely regarded as a game-changer in the development world, offering state-of-the-art features like Nanite for detailed virtual geometry and Lumen for realistic lighting effects. By adopting this engine, Age of Empires games are expected to showcase richer environments, lifelike animations, and enhanced visual realism on a scale not previously possible with older proprietary engines.

This transition highlights Microsoft's commitment to reinvigorate the franchise by aligning it with modern graphical standards while maintaining the strategic gameplay that fans cherish.

Development Insights from World's Edge

Job listings from World's Edge indicate a search for senior Unreal Engine engineers tasked with shaping the future technical foundations of upcoming Age of Empires projects. Furthermore, LinkedIn profiles of key developers suggest multiple unannounced titles in the pipeline, all utilizing Unreal Engine 5.

While Age of Empires IV was made by Relic Entertainment on a custom engine, the new approach will place World's Edge at the technical helm. Whether collaborating with other studios or expanding internally, this evolution underscores a strategic shift to embrace industry-leading tools.

Expectations and Hopes for New Installments

Fans of the franchise are eagerly awaiting details, with speculation pointing towards a new mainline game, possibly Age of Empires V. Expectations include more immersive battles with larger armies, improved AI, detailed destruction, and expansive maps with dynamic landscapes brought to life by Unreal's powerful rendering capabilities.

As the series approaches its 30th anniversary, these advancements position Age of Empires to captivate both longtime enthusiasts and a new generation of strategy gamers.

Looking Forward

No official release dates or detailed reveals have been announced yet, but the evidence points to a future where Age of Empires games not only look stunning but also play seamlessly across diverse platforms, benefiting from Unreal Engine 5's scalability and optimization.

With World's Edge focusing on modernizing the franchise's engine, the road ahead seems promising for a revitalized Age of Empires experience.