New DLC and PlayStation 5 Port Set to Launch for 26-Year-Old Age of Empires II

A new DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition called The Three Kingdoms is set for release on May 6, 2025, simultaneously with a PlayStation 5 port launch. Massive expansion to a real-time strategy (RTS) features five new civilizations, three campaigns, and camel-mounted trebuchets.

The Three Kingdoms DLC focuses on the era of China’s Han dynasty collapse, introducing five new civilizations, Shu, Wei, Wu, Jurchens, and Khitans, each with its own new units:

• Shu features such unique units as the White Feather Guard, which slows down enemies it attacks, and War Chariots, a special vehicle that fires bolts from a huge repeating crossbow.
• Wei civilization features a horseman unit called Tiger Cavalry that levels up, killing other units and cavalry archer troops called Xianbei Raiders.
• Wu has the ranged troops with thermal weapons, Fire Archers, and Jian Swordsman, a heavy infantry unit with heavy shields.
• Jurchens features a cavalryman unit called Iron Pagoda and Grenadier, a foot soldier troops that hurl bombs. 
• Khitans civilization will feature infantryman troops called Liao Dao, and siege engines mounted on camels called Mounted Trebuchet.

On top of that several new units are coming within Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition to replace usual troops with more relevant to the era. The Hei Guang Cavalry, a heavily armored horseman unit, will replace the Knight, Cavalier, and Paladin for the Shu, Wei, and Wu factions. The Traction Trebuchet, a mobile long-range siege engine, will be available for Shu, Wei, and Wu, offering a powerful land-based siege option. The Lou Chuan, a heavily armed warship that functions as a floating fortress, effective against both enemy ships and buildings, is coming for Jurchens, Shu, Wei, and Wu. The Fire Lancer, a spear infantry unit with a secondary explosive ranged attack, will be available to the Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans, and Vietnamese. The Rocket Cart, a siege unit that replaces the Mangonel and launches incendiary rockets, will be available to the Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, and Koreans. The Dragon Ship, the most powerful Fire Ship in the game, is coming as an exclusive for the Chinese faction.

Besides that, three new campaigns are coming with the DLC. In the Liu Bei (Shu) campaign, players will follow Liu Bei, a former sandal maker, and his sworn brothers as they attempt to restore the Han dynasty during a brutal civil war. The Cao Cao (Wei) campaign will focus on Cao Cao’s rise from cavalry commander to the dominant political and military force behind the Chinese throne, testing whether his strategic brilliance and ambition could establish his own dynasty. And the Sun Clan (Wu) campaign, in its turn, will follow the sons of the Sun family as they seek revenge for their father’s murder and strive to establish rule over southern China, facing the challenge of proving themselves worthy of the Mandate of Heaven.

It is worth noting that Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, developed by World’s Edge and Forgotten Empires and published by Xbox Game Studios, is a 2019 remaster of the original 1999 game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings that was developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original, the remaster brought to the table significantly improved visuals and 4K resolution support, with all previous expansions from the original and HD Edition on board.

The reborn title got its first expansion, Lords of the West, on Jan. 26, 2021, introducing two further civilizations, the Burgundians and the Sicilians, and three new campaigns featuring Edward Longshanks, the Dukes of Burgundy, and the Hautevilles.

On Aug. 10, 2021, A second expansion, Dawn of the Dukes, was launched featuring two Central European civilizations, the Poles and the Bohemians, with the Lithuanians being the subject of a campaign, as well as three new campaigns featuring Jadwiga, Jan Žižka, and Algirdas and Kęstutis.

Three new campaigns, featuring Babur, Rajendra, and Devapala, were introduced along with three new civilizations, the Bengalis, the Dravidians, and the Gurjaras, in a third expansion, Dynasties of India, on April 28, 2022.

Celebrating the franchise’s 25th anniversary, a fourth expansion, Return of Rome, composed of content from Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, was launched on May 16, 2023. The fifth expansion, The Mountain Royals, was released the same year on Oct. 31, introducing two new civilizations, the Georgians and the Armenians, as well as three new campaigns featuring Tamar, Thoros the Great, and Ismail.

A story expansion, Victors and Vanquished, was launched on March 14, 2025, adding 19 scenarios by modder Ramsey Abdulrahim.

On Nov. 14, 2024, a new expansion titled Chronicles: Battle for Greece was launched, featuring three ancient civilizations: Achaemenids, Athenians, and Spartans.

As of recent estimates, Age of Empires II has sold over 25 million copies worldwide in total since the original launch in 1999, contributing to more than $1 billion in revenue for the franchise.