Xbox Game Studios revealed the civilization of the United States for Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition during the recent Age of Empires fan event on April 10. The latest DLC is available now for $4,99 on Steam and the Windows Store. The expansion is also available for free for a limited time for players who complete certain in-game challenges.
The publisher was relatively quiet on details surrounding the new civilization during the event, which also saw broader news about upcoming DLCs and expansions AoE 3: DE and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. With the launch of American civilization, we know a little more.
According to a more detailed launch trailer, which can be seen at the top of this article, American civilization includes an exciting general – instead of the typical starter explorer – who can buff troops and militiamen by placing a flag on the battlefield, as well as building forts instead of city centers and increasing the rate at which other structures are built.
Speaking of militiamen, these units can be called multiple times in quick succession to defend buildings around each settlement. These can be "called from Town Center, Outpost, and Fort."
In addition to these units, other additions complementing the civ's ground and naval forces include:
- The regular
- The state militia
- the cowboy
- The owl
- The sniper
- Rifle Cavalry
- Le pistolet Gatling
- The quaker gun
- The battleship
- Le demolition
- The Union Steamer
There are also three unique buildings included: the Meeting House, the Saloon, and the State Capitol.
XGS previously hinted that the United States would not "age" the same as other civilizations in Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition. Now we know how it works. The United States transitions through a similar age window, but it does so through different states, such as Virginia and Delaware, each of which offers its own advantages and disadvantages.
Unlike other civilizations in AoE 3:DE, the United States uses immigration cards to gain certain buffs and deliveries at each age. This allows them to "borrow" from other cultures to create decks. The cards included in the US catalog weren't shared in the video, but they do run the range of cards found in other games.
The Age of Empires fan event also included the first in-depth look at the upcoming Age of Empires 4, including gameplay, a look at four of the game's eight civilizations, and more. For a full rundown of everything in the latest DLC, head over to the game's Steam forum page.
