To mark the 25th Anniversary of theAge of Empiresfranchise, Microsoft has announcedAge of Mythology: Retold, a definitive remaster of the popular spinoff game that originally launched in 2002. Back when the real-time strategy genre was at its peak, the developers at Ensemble Studios introduced to the gaming world a more radical take on the tried-and-trueAge of Empiresformula.Age of Mythologyintroduced concepts such as favor, deities, and hero units, seamlessly weaving mythical concepts with standardAge of Empiresgameplay. The game initially launched with three factions: the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Norse. Further additions such as the Atlanteans and the Chinese were introduced throughAge of Mythology’s expansion packs, to a somewhat mixed reception.RELATED:Age of Empires Stream Next Month Will Include Announcements and SurprisesThe remaster was announced on Twitter by the game’s own account as opposed to theAge of Empiresone, implying that Microsoft had a bigger plan for the spinoff than one might expect. This Definitive Edition isn’t the first attempt at remasteringAge of Mythology, as 2014 saw the release ofAge of Mythology: Extended Edition.
Unfortunately, Skybox Labs' attempt was met with criticism at launch, as numerous bugs and glitches plagued an otherwise faithful glow-up to a strategy game classic. It released an expansion pack in 2016 titledAge of Mythology: Tale of the Dragonthat featured a new playable faction, new fully-voiced campaign, and new maps.
Players were wondering if Relic Entertainment would tackle a proper remaster in the near future, as theAge of Empiresdeveloper teased anAge of Mythologyremastermerely a year prior to the announcement. The recent renaissance of the franchise reaffirmed its place in video game history and brought new eyes to a genre that desperately needed it. With Microsoft acquiring Blizzard Entertainment, it now holds three of the most iconic real-time strategy IPs, and given the wayAge of Empires' revival was handled, it shows that Microsoft is very much keen to invest in the genre.
An important thing to note is that the video also features the Xbox logo, implying that thisAge of Mythologyremake will also be releasing on console. This has been a standard pattern for Microsoft’s remasters, most of which have been given console ports after carefully being touched-up for the modern era. In fact, Microsoft has also announced thatAge of Empires 2: Definitive EditionandAge of Empires 4would be getting Xbox releasesin 2023. WhetherAge of Mythology: Retoldwill open the way for full-fledged sequels of expansion packs remains unknown, but one thing keeps its fans at ease – the knowledge that this IP is in good hands.
