The Age of Empires franchise is about to make a serious comeback, and it looks like Microsoft is pulling out all the stops. According to gaming insider Jez Corden from the Xboxtwo podcast, a new entry in the legendary real-time strategy series is currently in development, and it’s taking a completely different approach from its predecessor.
Why the Switch to Unreal Engine Matters
The biggest news? World’s Edge, Microsoft’s dedicated Age of Empires studio, is building the next game on Unreal Engine. This marks a significant departure from Age of Empires IV, which struggled with Relic Entertainment’s proprietary engine. Corden explained that one of the major challenges with Age IV was how difficult Relic’s engine proved to be, making it hard for the development team to deliver what fans expected from the franchise.
The engine problems weren’t just minor hiccups. Players and developers alike noticed issues ranging from AI difficulties to campaign scripting problems and even basic interaction troubles at launch. These weren’t simple polish issues but fundamental challenges that suggested the engine wasn’t quite ready for what Age of Empires demanded. By moving to Unreal Engine, World’s Edge is betting on a more flexible, proven platform that should make development smoother and help them nail that classic Age of Empires feel.
What’s interesting is that World’s Edge appears to be taking a more hands-on role this time. While they’ve typically coordinated development with external studios like Relic and Forgotten Empires, job postings suggest they might be more directly involved in creating this next entry. Whether they’ll partner with another developer remains unclear, but World’s Edge is definitely laying the groundwork.
Microsoft’s Big Bet on RTS Gaming
Corden emphasized that Age of Empires remains “one of Microsoft’s most substantial IPs,” and the company has successfully carved out a niche in the real-time strategy space. Even though RTS games don’t enjoy the same mainstream popularity they once did, Microsoft is doubling down on the genre as they invest more heavily in PC gaming. The franchise has reached an impressive 60 million players globally, proving there’s still serious appetite for strategic warfare.
The timing makes sense too. Microsoft has been aggressively expanding Age of Empires across platforms. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition hit PlayStation 5 in May 2025, while Age of Mythology: Retold launched on PS5 in March 2025. Age of Empires IV followed suit with a PlayStation 5 release in November 2025. This multiplatform strategy has introduced the franchise to entirely new audiences and clearly demonstrated that there’s demand beyond traditional PC players.
With crossplay support across all platforms and continuous content updates planned through 2026, Microsoft is treating Age of Empires like the major franchise it deserves to be. The company announced multiple expansions coming in 2026, including a spring DLC for Age of Empires IV focused on Chinese history, showing they’re committed to supporting the current games while building the future.
What About StarCraft?
In the same podcast episode, Corden also dropped some interesting StarCraft news. While a third-person shooter is apparently in the works (and looks impressive according to gameplay footage he’s seen), there’s also interest in reviving StarCraft as a traditional RTS. For fans worried that Blizzard’s iconic franchise would only return as a shooter, this should come as welcome news. Microsoft seems committed to the RTS genre broadly, not just Age of Empires.
When Can We Expect Announcements?
Don’t hold your breath for immediate reveals. Corden cautioned that he hasn’t heard much about the game’s setting or timeframe, suggesting it’s still in relatively early development. However, he’s confident the project is real and that when it does get unveiled (possibly at a future Xbox Showcase), it will represent a major resurgence for the series. With the 30th anniversary of Age of Empires arriving in 2027, that could be a natural target for either an announcement or even a release.
The shift to Unreal Engine and World’s Edge taking a more direct development role suggests Microsoft learned valuable lessons from Age of Empires IV’s launch struggles. Rather than rushing to market, they’re taking time to build the right foundation. For a franchise that’s been around since 1997 and has weathered multiple gaming eras, a patient approach to the next entry makes sense.
FAQs
Is Age of Empires 5 officially confirmed?
Not officially. While insider reports and job postings strongly suggest a new Age of Empires game is in development at World’s Edge using Unreal Engine, Microsoft hasn’t made any formal announcements yet.
Why is World’s Edge switching to Unreal Engine?
Age of Empires IV faced significant challenges with Relic Entertainment’s proprietary engine, making it difficult to adapt the game to fan expectations. Unreal Engine offers a more flexible and proven development platform that should ease these difficulties.
Will the next Age of Empires game come to PlayStation?
While not confirmed, it seems likely. Microsoft has been releasing Age of Empires titles on PlayStation 5, including Age of Empires II, Age of Mythology: Retold, and Age of Empires IV, all with crossplay support.
What happened with Age of Empires IV’s development?
The game struggled with engine-related issues including AI problems, campaign scripting difficulties, and interaction challenges at launch. These issues stemmed from difficulties working with Relic’s proprietary engine rather than simple polish problems.
When might we see the next Age of Empires game?
No timeframe has been announced, but with Age of Empires’ 30th anniversary coming in 2027 and the game still in early development, that year could be a potential target for announcements or release.
Who is developing the next Age of Empires game?
World’s Edge is building the foundation for the game and may take a more hands-on development role than previous entries. Whether they’ll partner with an external studio hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Is Microsoft still supporting current Age of Empires games?
Absolutely. Microsoft has announced multiple expansions and updates for Age of Empires IV, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and Age of Mythology: Retold throughout 2026, showing strong ongoing support for the franchise.
Looking Ahead
The Age of Empires franchise is clearly entering an exciting new chapter. With lessons learned from Age of Empires IV, a more robust development foundation using Unreal Engine, and Microsoft’s renewed commitment to both RTS gaming and multiplatform releases, the next entry has the potential to reach more players than ever before. While we’ll need to wait for official announcements, the groundwork being laid suggests something special is on the horizon for strategy fans.