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When I think of Age of Empires, I fondly recall countless, hundreds of hours spent as a child in front of a hazy CRT monitor, clicking frantically as I attempted to stave off the hordes of enemies who wanted to wipe my city and my people off the map.
In what seemed like an attempt to capitalize on the newfound popularity of the series following the remasters, Age of Empires Mobile launched on iOS and Android devices on October 17, 2024.
Developed by TiMi Studio Group — known for other mobile games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Pokémon UNITE — with help from World's Edge (aka Microsoft's in-house Age of Empires team), and published by Tencent, Age of Empires Mobile has racked up more than 5 million downloads on Google Play alone.
Now, as part of a yearly series update provided by the Age team, Age of Empires Mobile has received an "early 2026" release date on PC. Yes, you read that right. The mobile version of the PC version of Age of Empires is getting a PC version, and it's called Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition. That's not too confusing, right? Here's a snippet from the official release date announcement:
Now optimized for PC, players can experience the game with mouse control, full keyboard navigation, refined UI and enhanced 4K visuals. Seamless Crossplay will allow players who’ve started on mobile to swap between their phone, tablet and/or PC with ease.
AoE Official
The game is expected to launch on the PC Xbox app and Steam in early 2026, and it will be available on PC Game Pass on day one. It also has the Xbox Play Anywhere badge displayed on the teaser image. The announcement also comes with a slick new trailer showing the game off in what I can only assume is the best light possible.
I admittedly haven't paid much attention to the mobile version of the game, so from my limited perspective, it basically looks like a lot of other mobile RTS games with a bit of Age flair. Check it out for yourself.
With millions of downloads on the mobile side, I don't doubt that Xbox is capitalizing on an opportunity to attract PC players who want a more casual Age experience.
And before anyone worries too much about this port (unport?) pulling resources away from new Age content that PC gamers might better receive, keep in mind that the mobile news arrives alongside a long list of other content planned for the core titles.
The Age community reacts to the new PC port of the mobile version
Age of Empires Mobile sits at a modest 4.2-star rating on Google Play, falling to 3.6 stars on the App Store. Although we didn't touch it here on Windows Central, Android Authority called it "worse than I could possibly have imagined," while Digital Trends named it "the worst kind of mobile spinoff."
It's essentially a gacha-style game where you collect resources, build a city, and upgrade troops. Unlike classic Age of Empires, the game is idle while you're building, and the bulk of the battles are handled automatically. Ultimately, I don't think it's a game that most diehard Age players are going to want to sink time into.
The Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition announcement trailer has racked up nearly 5,000 views in the past 19 hours since it was posted, but it has only received 113 likes.
The top-rated comment so far, picking up more likes than the video itself, reads, "What are we even doin, man. There's already Age of Empires on PC and it's the good version."
On the Xbox subreddit, the replies to the announcement are a lot more comical. One user points out the obvious — "That's literally the PC version of the mobile version of the PC game." — while another questions, "Have we all lost our minds?"
FAQ
What is Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition?
Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition is a PC port of the mobile version of the PC series Age of Empires. You'll be able to enjoy the game across platforms when it launches on PC.
When does Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition launch?
Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition is expected to launch in early 2026. You can wishlist it now on Steam, or you can check it out at the Microsoft Store.
Is Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition free to play?
Yes, Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition is free to play on all platforms. However, it is a mobile game, which means there are plenty of microtransactions happy to take your money.
Is Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition also coming to Xbox?
It's hard to say, but the Xbox Play Anywhere badge on the teaser image suggests it will (at least one day) be available on console and cloud as well as PC.
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