What you need to know
- Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is getting cross-play between PC platforms.
- Soon you'll be able to play the game with Microsoft Store and Steam owners.
- The title is available for $20 through the Microsoft Store.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is an amazing experience. The title focuses on historic armies and significant conflicts that have occurred in the past. The first game spawned a couple of sequels, but there's something about the original that stands the test of time. In our review, we said, "If you somehow managed to miss out on trying the original Age of Empires, this is your time to get stuck in. The Definitive Edition is an excellent nod to the classic title that made the series what it is today."
This morning, Microsoft announced that Xbox Game Pass was coming to PC. The service will offer over a hundred PC games for one monthly price, but there's more to the story. Beforehand, players who purchased games from the Microsoft Store couldn't play with those who purchased the same title through Steam. Luckily, that's about to change with Age of Empires: Definitive Edition at least. The Age of Empires Twitter account confirmed cross-play between the Microsoft Store and Steam.
AoE: DE will support crossplay between both platforms, so you'll be able to play with everyone no matter what! Owning the game on one store won't give you a license on the other, but you can add non-Steam titles to your Steam library if that's where you like to manage your games.
— AgeOfEmpires (@AgeOfEmpires) May 30, 2019
Cross-play is the future of the industry, and it's great to see that Microsoft is enabling it between different PC platforms. Hopefully, more older titles will be updated to take advantage of this. This should help people easily find players for the multiplayer modes.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition costs $20 through the Microsoft Store. With over forty hours of modernized gameplay, all-new 4K visuals, eight-person multiplayer battles, and a host of other new features, there's never been a better time to jump into the game.
The classic returns
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
A fresh coat of paint
Age of Empires, the pivotal strategy game that launched a twenty-year legacy returns in definitive form for Windows 10. Bringing together all of the officially released content with modernized gameplay, all-new visuals, and a host of other new features, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is the complete package.
Cheap PC accessories we love
Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.
Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)
Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.
Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)
This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.
NZXT Puck ($20 at Amazon)
This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.
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