The first real-time strategy game of the series, developed by the now-dead Ensemble Studios, came out in 1997, followed by Age of Empires II in 1999 and Age of Empires III in 2005. 

“Empires will rise, kingdoms will fall.”

This ominous, gnomic phrase seems the best commentary for the new Age of Empires game, Age of Empires IV, which is in development for Windows 10 PC.

Each one was focused on a different era — Stone and Classical period; Middle Ages and colonial period — but from the trailer it looks that the fourth instalment will have a variety of armies.

While publisher Microsoft Studios revealed nothing about the project, the animated concept art features Native Americans, British Redcoats, Roman legionary, Japanese Samurai, and others.

“We can’t wait to tap into our strengths as a studio to fuse historical context with deep strategic gameplay, and to bring this franchise back to the forefront of gaming and into the hands of its beloved community,” the Vancouver, Canada-based Relic Entertainment, the studio making the game, said in its announcement.

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