Age of Empires 2 Gets a HD Makeover, on Steam Next Month

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Age of Empires 2 Gets a HD Makeover, on Steam Next Month

Post by Dan @ 11:21am 08/03/13 | 13 Comments

Microsoft has announced Age of Empires II HD Edition, a revamp of Ensemble Studios' acclaimed real-time strategy game, being "re-imagined in high definition" by Defense Grid, and CS:Go developer Hidden Path Entertainment.

In Age of Empires II: HD Edition, fans of the original game and new players alike will fall in love with the classic Age of Empires II experience. Explore all the original single player campaigns from both Age of Kings and The Conquerors expansion, choose from 18 civilizations spanning over a thousand years of history, and head online to challenge other Steam players in your quest for world domination throughout the ages.

Age of Empires II HD will launch on Steam on April 10th 2013 for US$19.99, however customers that pre-order in the next two days will reportedly be able to access the game early on April 5th, along with a 10% discount.

Perhaps more tantalising than the resolution increase is the Steamworks support, which means achievements, leaderboards and matchmaking through Steam, as well as user-created content via the Steam Workshop.

AoE 2 marks the fourth Microsoft-published game to appear on Steam, indicating that even they have dumped the unpopular Games for Windows Live platform. It also confirms yet another rumour that was uncovered by the CDR Database dump, adding more weight to the rumoured Halo games making their way to Valve's platform.

Gamespot has a trailer for Age of Empires II: HD, which you can watch embedded below

age of empires 2 hd microsoft ensemble studios hidden path entertainment steam

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Reality
Posted 11:46am 08/3/13

really?
really??

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ravn0s
Posted 11:59am 08/3/13

$20? i think i'll wait for a sale.

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simul
Posted 12:22pm 08/3/13

We still play this on Fridays for about 6 hours with 8+ player games - no other RTS can beat it. Shame it doesn't seem to add much above/beyond what AOE:FE has already - apart from steam online play (which isn't relevant as we play at work)

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Hogfather
Posted 12:25pm 08/3/13

Why do you guys keep locking posts when users beat you to the post if you have the technical ability to edit in your content and promote instead? In this case the OP was almost an hour old when you killed it.

Its a massive, massive disincentive for users to post gaming news to the website, and I feel like I need to wait to see if the post is going to survive before I comment on it...

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TiT
Posted 12:27pm 08/3/13

Why do you guys keep locking posts when users beat you to the post if you have the technical ability to edit in your content and promote instead? In this case the OP was almost an hour old when you killed it.Its a massive, massive disincentive for users to post gaming news to the website, and I feel like I need to wait to see if the post is going to survive before I comment on it...

yeah agree, I like when the post gets promoted and edited

Anyway Im keen on getting it Add me on steam _TiT_ if you want to play some online action!!!!

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ravn0s
Posted 12:31pm 08/3/13

Why do you guys keep locking posts when users beat you to the post if you have the technical ability to edit in your content and promote instead? In this case the OP was almost an hour old when you killed it.

Its a massive, massive disincentive for users to post gaming news to the website, and I feel like I need to wait to see if the post is going to survive before I comment on it...

probably because they make the news post before checking the forums. so it's probably easier to just lock the thread.

also i don't think dan ever promotes anything.

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Hogfather
Posted 12:49pm 08/3/13

probably because they make the news post before checking the forums. so it's probably easier to just lock the thread.also i don't think dan ever promotes anything.

Easier for sure. Less nice to your users, though.

$20 is my sweet spot for shit like this. I may get suckered into buying.

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ravn0s
Posted 01:02pm 08/3/13

it's $15 if you buy the 4 pack with friends.

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Hogfather
Posted 01:25pm 08/3/13

Need friends!

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Trauma
Posted 01:59pm 08/3/13

Dat AoE theme music. But not worth $20.

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kirkoswald
Posted 02:35pm 08/3/13

Will buy

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Hogfather
Posted 02:46pm 08/3/13

AoE 2 marks the fourth Microsoft-published game to appear on Steam, indicating that even they have dumped the unpopular Games for Windows Live platform.

They're probably going to replace it with the Windows Store while also releasing their gaming shit natively on Steam with full support for Steamworks etc.

That way next time Valve cracks a great big smelly shit about the Store they can assume the higher ground about participating in a free and open digital marketplace and tell them to pull their heads in.

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