World’s Edge studio and TiMi Studio Group at present revealed they’re working collectively to convey Age of Empires to cell units, with a deliberate launch later this 12 months.
Age of Empires Mobile shall be a free-to-play technique recreation with in-game purchases, which can embrace objects to hurry up development and acquire sources. Just like the PC video games, Age of Empires cell will function base constructing, empire constructing, fight, and RTS components. However it’s not strictly an RTS recreation – quite, it is a combine of totally different technique mechanics, and also will see sure components of customization for cell units. Obtainable characters will span a quantity of historic eras together with the Chinese language, Roman, Frank, and Byzantium empires, and can embrace King Arthur, Joan of Arc, Julius Caesar, Leonidas I, Alexander I, Khalid, Durgavati, and the Queen of Shiba. Gamers may also have the ability to compete each alongside and in opposition to each other in each 1v1 play and bigger siege battles. Extra content material is deliberate to be added to the sport as time goes on.
Whereas mainline Age of Empires video games have been developed by World’s Edge, Age of Empires Mobile is being made by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio, the identical studio that developed Call of Duty Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Pokemon Unite. We spoke with producer Robin Xin and TiMi Studio Group common supervisor Brayden Fan by way of electronic mail forward of the announcement to study a bit extra concerning the partnership, and the way it got here to be.
So why did TiMi select the Age of Empires franchise particularly as its subsequent main cell partnership undertaking? One motive may be {that a} quantity of the builders there are massive followers of the sequence. Xin is, actually, saying it was his introduction to the RTS style and calling the sequence “iconic.”
“The unique title was how I discovered to make use of a mouse and keyboard,” Xin says. “So while you develop up taking part in Age of Empires, you study the totally different features of the sport. First off I used to be all the time making an attempt to construct my base to be extra highly effective. Then, I received into the fight. And even nonetheless, I’m hooked. I’ll watch Age of Empires 4 content material creators on BiliBili – though I need to admit, I’m personally extra fascinated by movies sharing totally different tactical approaches quite than watching the sport’s aggressive scene. However simply the truth that this sequence can supply other ways to interact with it, exhibits why it’s such an amazing title to work on.”
Age of Empires Mobile differs from TiMi’s earlier partnerships in that with Call of Duty Mobile and Pokemon Unite, publishing rights stayed with the IP holder. However for Age of Empires Mobile, TiMi would be the writer. Fan explains that this is because of TiMi’s “appreciable” expertise in cell recreation publishing, and that each World’s Edge and TiMi have “maintained a robust, deep cooperation” all through the undertaking.
However that does not imply this would be the actual Age of Empires PC-fans are used to. Xin tells me that this ought to be thought of a “brand-new” tackle the sequence, tailor-made for cell customers. He explains that some of the variations will embrace reductions within the quantity of fight items managed by gamers in addition to the frequency of operations, and provides “sensible assists” to assist with controls throughout troop battles, in addition to a less complicated UI all through the sport. The aim, he says, is to make the sport simpler to play in order that gamers can focus extra on strategic planning quite than fumbling with the UI.
And there are some new gameplay components as properly, Xin provides:
“Age of Empires Mobile introduces a range of single-player gameplay modes – some are primarily based on RTS gameplay – however extra distinctive is the multiplayer expertise. The core facet being the alliance gameplay. This presents gamers an opportunity to group up in large alliances and participate in epic siege wars, constructing power by way of cooperation and competing in opposition to gamers worldwide.”
Age of Empires Mobile is deliberate to enter early testing in choose areas quickly, and pre-registration is anticipated to be accessible at present.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Acquired a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.