Release date: 16/05/2023Welcome to Return of Rome, a completely new type of expansion pack which brings Age of Empires, the title that started it all, into Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition as a brand new self-contained experience. This new expansion will allow you to challenge friends with the original sixteen Age of Empires civilizations — plus one brand-new Return of Rome exclusive civilization, the Lac Viet— and relive the triumph and trials of antiquity. Battle your way across the ancient world with three new campaigns featuring conquerors, empire-builders, and gifted tacticians fighting desperately against fate! As an additional bonus, the Romans will no longer be bound by time as they become a new playable civilization within Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, ready to battle in the new Age.
17 Ancient Civilizations:
- Assyrians
- Babylonians
- Carthaginians
- Choson
- Egyptians
- Greeks
- Hittites
- Macedonians
- Minoans
- Palmyrans
- Persians
- Phoenicians
- Romans
- Shang
- Sumerians
- Yamato
- And 1 entirely new, Return of Rome exclusive: Lac Viet — The ancient civilization of Southeast Asia
PLUS 1 new longtime fan-requested civilization for use in standard Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition:
- Romans — Rise to the throne of an empire dominating the Mediterranean Sea and defend your borders against countless barbarian invasions. The Roman unique units are the Legionary, a sturdy infantry unit, and the Centurion, a heavy cavalry unit that increases the power of nearby Militia-line units. Available in singleplayer and unranked multiplayer games.
New! A Rise of Rome exclusive Game Mode:
Introducing the D3 Game Mode, inspired by a ruleset made popular in Vietnam, is now an official part of the franchise!
3 New, Fully Voiced Campaigns:
Sargon of Akkad — An unlikely man rises to power in the city-states of Mesopotamia: Sargon is a simple cupbearer to the king, but everything changes when the war goddess Ishtar appears in his dreams. Under her guidance, Sargon leads the quarreling Sumerians into a new age, but the appealing nature of power forces him to choose between his divine destiny and his personal ambition. In this campaign, you will play as the Sumerians.
Pyrrhus of Epirus — As the Wars of the Diadochi saw Alexander the Great’s successors throw the Greek world into chaos, Pyrrhus of Epirus began as a small player among titans. Will he become worthy of the legendary Hannibal Barca’s judgment of him – a renowned general of the age – or will his constant uphill struggle prove insurmountable? In this campaign, you will play as the Macedonians.
Trajan — Marcus Ulpius Trajanus climbed the ranks of the legions while the Emperor Domitian’s tyrannical rule tarnished the Roman Empire’s glory. When circumstance elevates him to the throne as Emperor Trajan, he inherits a realm on the brink of disaster. Will resourcefulness, virtue, and military might be enough to save Rome and lead it to its historical zenith, or will the Roman Empire collapse four centuries before its time? In this campaign, you will play as the Romans.
Experience Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Quality of Life improvements to Age of Empires gameplay:
- Gates
- Formations
- Trade carts
- UI improvements
- Visual improvements
- Spectator mode
- An enhanced AI for computer opponents
- And much more!
