What changed in Age of Empires II (Retired) in 2015

Teaser video reveals new civilizations included in the upcoming expansion.

Two new boats added in the Feudal Age for all civilizations to enhance naval warfare.

One of the new civilizations will feature a unique naval unit.

Introduction of balance changes affecting both the original game and the expanded game.

Two new boats introduced in the Feudal Age for all civilizations to enhance naval warfare.

New balance changes introduced for both the original game and the expanded game.

One of the new civilizations will feature a unique naval unit.

Sneak preview of the new campaigns featuring Sundiata, the legendary Malian leader.

Sneak preview of the new campaigns featuring the legendary Malian leader Sundiata.

Confirmation that the new campaigns will feature English voice acting.

Confirmation of English voice acting for the new campaigns.

Introduction of a new architecture set for African civilizations in Age of Empires II HD.

Introduction of a new architecture set for African civilizations in Age of Empires II HD.

Upgrade and Build progress bars should appear smoother.

Old Saved games and Replays should now load correctly without desyncs.

Players can use the minus (-) key at the start of their text to create a negative filter.

The Delete Scenario Confirmation popup now correctly displays the file name being deleted.

Additional Units, Buildings and Heroes now have placement sounds.

Clicking in the Mod list when it’s empty no longer crashes the game.

Shift+Click on Priority Up will move the selected item to the top of the list.

Fixes for localized languages.

Display Instructions images no longer appear corrupted.

Display Instructions message box for the Trigger Effects has been increased to 200 characters.

Disable Buildings Option now functions correctly with the Forgotten Dataset.

Taunt/Command audio now play correctly when selecting them in the Chat menu.

Upload Trigger Effect now functions correctly with the Set Location Option.

Publish Mod Preview Image help text now correctly says to use a .JPG file.

Filters have been integrated which include Status/Dataset check boxes and a text field.

Includes Status/Dataset check boxes and a text field.

Random Start Option should now function correctly with Starting Age, Unit Ownership, Town Center locations and Triggers.

Campaign Difficulty popup text no longer cuts off in localized languages.

Help cursor no longer stays active when using ESC to exit the Diplomacy menu.

Starting Age now correctly updates the building visuals when loaded.

Text rendering has been improved and combined into a single pass (down from 5).

Taunt/Command text should now display correctly in all localized languages.

Main Menu music now has new logic to determine which music variation to play based on owned DLC.

Disabled buildings are no longer available to build.

Now specifies to use a .JPG file.

Lock and Unlock Trigger Effects now function correctly for Gates.

Save menu now displays dataset icons next to each entry.

Opening the Menu while entering text no longer prevents further text entry once the Menu has been closed.

Tech Tree images now correctly display the player color.

Teleport Trigger Effect now functions correctly and units no longer navigate back to their starting location.

Help Text is no longer being cut off and displays hit point and hotkey information correctly.

Re-ordering Triggers with Effects should now function correctly.

Command inputs now feel responsive when entered quickly.

Record game is always enabled by default for multiplayer matches.

Game Launcher text should now appear correctly in localized languages.

Clamped Mouse scrolling now functions correctly for easier windowed screen movement.

Recognizes .AVI and .WMV files.

The game will no longer take up 100% CPU, reducing heat buildup and energy consumption.

Units no longer navigate back to starting location.

Objectives menu now contains additional information like Map Type, Treaty Length, and Teams Locked.

Desync issues resolved.

Quick Match functionality has temporarily been disabled.

No more corruption or crashes.

Includes Map Type, Treaty Length, and Teams Locked.

Large native fps improvements under Windows 10, with some cases showing more than 200% frame rate improvements.

Reduced from 5 passes for text outline effect.

Includes Amazon Archers, Sheep, Yurts, and William Wallace.

Gaia’s default player color is now defaulted to grey.

Campaign background images no longer appear corrupted in dark/shadow areas.

Players are no longer able to delete their last Profile.

Players are no longer able to make Player profiles with the same name.

Hotkeys now correctly display and use special characters without corruption or crashing.

Minimal duplications now occur.

When watching replays, replaying at the fastest speed can lead to an eventual crash due to recent render decoupling changes.

Checkboxes in the Multiplayer Lobby now appear correctly when selecting Ready.

Game no longer takes up 100% CPU, reducing heat and energy consumption.

Set Area should now function correctly with Patrol and Attack Move commands.

Fastest speed during replays may cause crashes due to render changes.

Players are no longer able to send tribute to enemy players.

If fonts disappear after patching from older builds – please reboot your PC to resolve the issue.

Diplomacy menu now correctly displays radial buttons.

In some cases, over 200% frame rate improvements.

Scrolling now has a small accelerate/decelerate value which is tunable in the Options menu.

Shift+Click on Enable will enable all visible mods based on the current filter setting.

No more cut-off information.

Commands register correctly when entered quickly.

Change Ownership Trigger Effect should now function correctly for Town Centers.

Play Sound Trigger Effect no longer has 'None' as a valid option.

Scenario movies and .BINA files should now load correctly.

Effect text remains red until a sound file is selected.

Fixes in some menus.

Movies have been added to the Steam Tag list and recognizes .AVI and .WMV files.

Game Launcher now functions correctly with Windows 10.

Civilization sounds now play correctly at the start of a game with no delay.

Includes Scroll Inertia setting.

Fixes for dark/shadow areas.

Saving a scenario no longer disables scroll wheel functionality in some menus.

Works with Starting Age, Unit Ownership, Town Center locations, and Triggers.

Selecting Random Civilizations should now function correctly with minimal duplications.

Vastly improved overall performance by enabling the renderer to update separately from the World Update.

Determines music variation based on owned DLC.

Non-Host players can no longer swap teams in scenarios when that option is disabled.

Now 200 characters (up from 50).

Delay removed for quicker game start.

Restore Multiplayer game should now function correctly.

Campaign Difficulty setting is now saved correctly.

Choose Teams should now be on by default for older scenarios.

Preview images when publishing are no longer gigantic.

Visibility drop down now functions correctly.

AI should now attack Palisade Walls.

Incorrect cursor outlines should no longer appear.

Character limit for trigger display instructions has been increased.

Character limit for trigger display instructions has been increased.

AI should now function correctly and participate during gameplay.

Corrupted cursor should no longer appear.

Change Unit Stance no longer crashes the game.

Trigger scroll bar now scrolls correctly when using the up/down arrows.

The multiplayer lobby screen should no longer freeze when the host is file transferring.

A View Workshop button has been added and will bring up the appropriate Steam page.

Seed values for map generation can now be changed after deselection.

Deleted scenarios no longer appear as the default option when creating a game.

Added launch option 'oldschool' for those who value style over readability.

Accepting a Steam invite should now allow players to interact with the multiplayer lobby.

Trigger descriptions can now be edited.

Preview images now function correctly as jpg files.

Accepting a Steam invite should now allow players to interact with the multiplayer lobby.

AI should now attack Palisade Walls.

Preview images now function correctly as jpg files.

Trigger scroll bar now scrolls correctly when using the up/down arrows.

Deleted scenarios no longer appear as the default option when creating a game.

Preview images when publishing are no longer gigantic.

Choose Teams should now be on by default for older scenarios.

Modded taunt files should now be functioning.

Incorrect cursor outlines should no longer appear.

The multiplayer lobby screen should no longer freeze when the host is file transferring.

Corrupted cursor should no longer appear.

Change Unit Stance no longer crashes the game.

Selecting transfer arrows with nothing selected in the options tab no longer crashes the game.

Selecting transfer arrows with nothing selected in the options tab no longer crashes the game.

Added launch option 'oldschool' for those who value style over readability.

Seed values for map generation can now be changed after deselection.

Visibility drop down now functions correctly.

Trigger descriptions can now be edited.

AI should now function correctly and participate during gameplay.

Modded taunt files should now be functioning.

A View Workshop button has been added and will bring up the appropriate Steam page.

Lock teams button should now function correctly.

Lock teams button should now function correctly.

Generic drum audio should now be playing for all non-civilization categories.

Generic drum audio should now be playing for all non-civilization categories.

Unit health bars are now larger and more visible.

Exposed chat commands to customize FPS and UI frame rate settings.

When building items without a hotkey it may cause a crash.

Multiplayer file transferring is still encountering issues.

Quick Match functionality has temporarily been disabled.

Tech tree info boxes are no longer bold and highlighted yellow; background is now white.

Images are no longer cropped on the History Page.

Unit health bars are now larger and more visible.

Dragging the selection box in the mini map is now smoother.

Legacy mods now show the appropriate icons for subscribed and published.

Units list now correctly defaults to the Units category.

Campaign objective text is now correctly being crossed out when completed.

Invalid mod files will now be removed when running the game.

Legacy mods now show the appropriate icons for subscribed and published.

FPS issues are still occurring and we are actively trying to improve performance.

Clearing Tribute now correctly clears the number on the image.

Fonts may not appear when patching from older builds – please restart your pc.

Validation should no longer stall if the player has not accepted the Steam User Agreement.

Validation should no longer stall if the player has not accepted the Steam User Agreement.

Campaign objective text is now correctly being crossed out when completed.

Selecting Print Screen on the Main Menu no longer crashes.

Clearing Tribute now correctly clears the number on the image.

Preview images now need to be jpg files to get around the 1MB limit.

Difficulty level now says hardest rather than harder.

Tribute resource images are now being displayed correctly.

Deleting triggers and effects no longer crashes.

Civilization specific audio should now be playing correctly for each civilization.

Triggers in the Editor are now correctly highlighted yellow.

Difficulty level now says hardest rather than harder.

The 'Error 25' message when adding a large preview image has been improved.

Embedded AI scripts inside campaigns are not properly being referenced.

Change Object Name Trigger now functions correctly.

Triggers in the Editor no longer disappear when editing the map.

Britons history text is no longer cut off by the scroll bar.

A list of known issues has been provided, including problems with Quick Match and multiplayer functionalities.

Invalid mod files will now be removed when running the game.

Preview images now need to be jpg files to get around the 1MB limit.

When updating a Legacy Mod the text field may appear cut off.

Dragging the selection box in the mini map is now smoother.

In the Editor the Choose Teams options does not affect Triggers.

Change Object Name Trigger now functions correctly.

Addressed a random crash when selecting Scenario/Main Menu on the Post Game screen.

Selecting Print Screen on the Main Menu no longer crashes.

Britons header text is now displayed correctly.

Triggers in the Editor are now correctly highlighted yellow.

Britons history text is no longer cut off by the scroll bar.

Britons header text is now displayed correctly.

Mods that require files outside the '_common' folder may not function correctly.

When cancelling while joining a lobby players may still join the lobby.

Civilizations are not randomizing correctly.

Images are no longer cropped on the History Page.

Mouse wheel scrolling now functions correctly on the History Page.

Tribute resource images are now being displayed correctly.

Mouse wheel scrolling now functions correctly on the History Page.

Restore multiplayer games has not been fully implemented and may not load correctly.

Triggers in the Editor no longer disappear when editing the map.

Tech tree info boxes are no longer bold and highlighted yellow.

Addressed a random crash when selecting Scenario/Main Menu on the Post Game screen.

Delete Garrisoned Unit button no longer crashes.

The game will now launch if the installation directory started with a space.

The game will now launch if the installation directory started with a space.

Civilization specific audio should now be playing correctly for each civilization.

Changing hotkeys to their current value may result in a crash.

The 'Error 25' message when adding a large preview image has been improved.

Units list now correctly defaults to the Units category.

New chat commands allow players to customize FPS settings for better performance.

AI can now respond to requests for food and alliances.

AI will resign when appropriate and pursue relics in Capture the Relic games.

AI will now respond to requests for food and alliances.

Sacrifices smooth animation for greater processing speed during validation.

AI will now resign appropriately and pursue relics in Capture the Relic games.

Game attempts to auto relocate custom scenarios, AI, and random map scripts.

Improves processing speed at the cost of smooth animation.

Commands include 'getfps', 'setmaxfps #', and 'setuifps #'.

Upgrading mods now functions for all players and easier management for those with over 50 mods.

Players can now break out of infinite loops with Ctrl+C.

Includes custom scenarios, AI, and random map scripts.

Commands include 'getfps', 'setmaxfps #', and 'setuifps #'.

Introducing new civilizations and terrains inspired by the African continent.

Implementation of a Unified Lobby to improve multiplayer and singleplayer experiences.

New animals added to enhance the game's visual experience.

Addition of new animals to enhance the game's visual appeal.

A new Unified Lobby feature to improve multiplayer and singleplayer experiences.

Introduction of new civilizations and terrains inspired by the African continent.

The Berbers civilization will feature Camel Archers, unique units, and a new campaign.

The Berbers civilization will feature Camel Archers, unique units, and a new campaign.

AOE II: LD is designed to remain functional in online multiplayer experiences.

Introducing AOE II: LD Edition designed for CRT monitors with a resolution of 800x600.

Players can access the LD Edition by selecting it from the 'betas' tab in game properties.

Introducing AOE II: LD Edition designed for CRT monitors with a resolution of 800x600.

Players can access AOE II: LD by right-clicking the game in Steam, going to properties, and selecting it from the betas tab.