The Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase leading off day two of E3 2021 highlighted a huge array of titles, from a trailer for Halo Infinite's campaign and free multiplayer to the announcement that Supergiant Games' hit indie title Hades is coming to Xbox Game Pass. Developer Relic Entertainment took one spot to debut a new Age of Empires 4 trailer, announcing the game will officially release on October 28.
A new entry in the real-time strategy series has been in development for some time, with an Age of Empires 4 gameplay trailer this April letting fans know it would come out in the fall. The official E3 trailer confirms it is still releasing exclusively for PC, but it will notably be available day one through Xbox Game Pass.
Relic Entertainment's latest trailer showcases some new gameplay, but its main appeal is a through-line connecting real-world historical battles and figures including Jeanne D'Arc (Joan of Arc) to what players can experience. Text in the latter half tells players they can "rise through the ages," "create your legacy," and "make history your story." Age of Empires 4 is also available to pre-order now.
The original Age of Empires released in 1997, and the series has been going strong ever since. A new expansion for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition was also announced during the April 2021 showcase, bringing new content to the 2019 remaster of a fan-favorite 1999 title. Between this and Age of Empires 4, it's clear Relic Entertainment has its hands full delivering content on all fronts.
At the same time, the developer has other teasers for more content in its pipeline. There are suggestions that Relic Entertainment wants to revive its Age of Mythology series, a spin-off that takes the same historical real-time strategy concept and applies it to the mythologies and legends of ancient cultures. It's still unclear whether Age of Mythology will be coming back anytime soon, but fans of the developer and its stable of games still have its more grounded sibling in the meantime.
Other major titles showcased throughout the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021 included brand-new reveals such as Avalanche Studios' Contraband, trailers for games such as Turtle Rock Studios' Back 4 Blood, and a major showcase for Forza Horizon 5. Rare's Sea of Thieves will also be crossing over with Pirates of the Caribbean this month, and Bethesda's Starfield is set to release in November 2022, so there should be plenty for Xbox fans to look forward to.
Age of Empires 4 releases October 28, 2021 on PC.