Age of Empires IV Anniversary Edition hits $14 on Steam – a historic low

What’s new

The Age of Empires IV Anniversary Edition is back on Steam for about $14, down from the regular $40 price tag. The bundle includes the base game, the Yue Fei’s Legacy expansion released in May 2026, and the earlier Rise of the Rajas and The Kingdoms packs. According to SteamDB, this price level has been seen only a handful of times, most recently in December 2025. The discount applies to the core game only; buying the full DLC suite still pushes the total cost well above $30.

How it compares to the original and the competition

Core gameplay vs. 2021 launch

When Age of Empires IV shipped in October 2021, it entered a market still dominated by StarCraft II and the Total War series. The base game offered eight distinct civilizations, each with a unique tech tree and playstyle. The Anniversary Edition adds the Jin Dynasty (via Yue Fei’s Legacy) and refines several UI elements that were criticized at launch. Performance on a mid‑range RTX 3060 system now averages 58 fps at 1080p with medium settings, a modest improvement over the original 48 fps benchmark.

Content depth

Without DLC, the game provides roughly 30–40 hours of campaign content across four story arcs. Adding the expansions pushes total playtime past 70 hours, with the new Jin campaign contributing another 10 hours of narrative missions and a set of unique siege weapons. In comparison, StarCraft II’s campaign totals about 25 hours, while Total War: Warhammer III offers 40 hours of story missions but requires a much higher hardware envelope.

Visuals and technical polish

The graphics engine, built on the FX Engine, still shows textures that were acceptable in 2021 but fall short of the ray‑traced fidelity seen in newer RTS titles like Company of Heroes 3. Recent patches have introduced DLSS 2.2 support, which helps lift frame rates on RTX 20‑series cards without a noticeable loss in image quality. However, the game lacks native Vulkan support, a gap that competitors such as Age of Empires IV’s rival Warcraft III: Reforged have already filled.

Pricing against rivals

Title	Base price (USD)	Current Steam price	Avg. fps @ 1080p (mid‑range GPU)
Age of Empires IV (Anniversary)	$40	$14	58
StarCraft II (Legacy of the Void)	$39	$39	72
Total War: Warhammer III	$59	$59	45
Company of Heroes 3	$59	$59	60

The discount makes AoE IV the most affordable full‑featured RTS on Steam right now, especially when you factor in the added expansions.

Who should care

• Newcomers to historical RTS – The low entry price removes the financial barrier for players who have been curious about the series but hesitated due to cost. The bundled expansions give a complete picture of the game’s evolution without needing to purchase add‑ons later.
• Steam Deck owners – Valve lists the game as Playable on the Deck. While the handheld’s integrated controller isn’t ideal for micromanagement, the trackpad and optional mouse dongle provide a surprisingly smooth experience for short skirmishes.
• Veterans looking for a refresher – Long‑time fans who already own the base game can pick up the Yue Fei’s Legacy expansion for roughly $8, a fraction of the original DLC price. The new Jin civilization adds fresh strategic options that can shake up established meta‑games.
• Budget‑conscious gamers – Compared with the $59 price tags of newer RTS releases, the $14 bundle offers more total content hours per dollar than almost any competitor.

Bottom line

Age of Empires IV’s Anniversary Edition hitting $14 is a rare moment for a title that has consistently delivered solid, historically flavored RTS gameplay. While the graphics aren’t bleeding‑edge and the lack of Vulkan support limits future optimisation, the game’s core loop—balancing economy, research, and tactical combat—remains engaging. For anyone interested in medieval strategy, or for players who have been waiting for a price that matches the game’s value, this sale is the perfect time to jump in.

Disclaimer: Prices are accurate at the time of writing and may change without notice.