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Difference between revisions of "Age of Empires II: HD Edition"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (updated borderless fullscreen windowed usage)
m (Plok moved page Age of Empires II (2013) to Age of Empires II: HD Edition: The in-game title was never changed, only the Steam store page one. As of 2024, it was changed again just to show it's no longer supported, so the current PCGW title no longer belongs either way)
 
(151 intermediate revisions by 45 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Infobox
+
{{disambig|the 2013 HD Edition|the original game|[[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]|the 2019 Definitive Edition|[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition]]}}
−
|cover         = Age of Empires II HD cover.jpg
+
{{Infobox game
−
|developer      = [[Wikipedia:Hidden Path Entertainment|Hidden Path Entertainment]]
+
|cover       = Age of Empires II HD cover.jpg
−
|publisher      = [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Studios|Microsoft Studios]]
+
|developers  =
−
|release dates  = April 9, 2013
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Hidden Path Entertainment}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ensemble Studios}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/developer|SkyBox Labs|DLC}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Forgotten Empires}}
 +
|publishers  =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Microsoft Studios}}
 +
|engines      =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Genie}}
 +
|release dates=
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|April 9, 2013}}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition|68}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition|}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase, Expansion pack }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | None }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives     | Bird's-eye view, Isometric }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Multiple select, Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | RTS }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Pre-Columbian Americas, Medieval }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Age of Empires }}
 +
|steam appid  = 221380
 +
|steam appid side = 239550,355950,488060
 +
|gogcom id    =
 +
|official site= https://www.ageofempires.com
 +
|hltb        = 12193
 +
|lutris      = age-of-empires-ii-hd
 +
|strategywiki =
 +
|mobygames    = 60252
 +
|wikipedia    = Age of Empires II HD
 +
|winehq      = 28008
 +
|license      = commercial
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      = '''''Age of Empires II: HD Edition''''' (silently renamed on the Steam store page to '''''Age of Empires II (2013)''''' on August 15, 2019<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://steamdb.info/app/221380/history/?changeid=6734155|title=SteamDB - Age of Empires II (2013) - Displaying change #6734155|date=2019-08-18}}</ref>, later '''''Age of Empires II (Retired)''''' on January 14, 2024<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://steamdb.info/app/221380/history/?changeid=U:44228073|title=Age of Empires II (2013) · Age of Empires II (Retired) History · Change #U:44228073 · SteamDB|date=2024-01-18}}</ref>) is an updated version of the 1999 {{Glossary:Medieval}} {{Glossary:RTS}} ''[[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]'' and its ''The Conquerors'' expansion pack. It features native high resolution support and new {{Glossary:Multiplayer}} servers.
 +
 
 +
|release history  = This version's first expansion, '''''The Forgotten''''', was released in November 2013. It is an officially supported version of the ''Forgotten Empires'' mod for ''The Conquerors'' which had received an estimated 500.000 downloads prior to the official release of said expansion.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.forgottenempires.net/age-of-empires-2-hd-the-forgotten/the-story-so-far|title=The Story so Far... - Forgotten Empires|date=2023-06-03}}</ref> This was the point at which the mod's developers, the [[Company:Forgotten Empires|Forgotten Empires]], would become involved with further development of the ''HD Edition'' and subsequently future releases of ''Age of Empires''.
 +
 
 +
Two other expansions were released, each bringing new civilizations and campaigns: '''''The African Kingdoms''''' in November 2015 and '''''Rise of the Rajas''''' in 2016. These expansions would use a separate data set to the one used in the base game. Players who would not purchase any expansion would get free access to a limited set of expansion factions in multiplayer which would rotate daily.
 +
 
 +
The game was supported officially until patch 5.8 was released in September 2018, transferring all efforts to development and post-launch support for ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]''.
 +
 
 +
|current state    = With time, the game's multiplayer stability and responsiveness issues became more apparent, so players would move to the original version with back-ported ''HD Edition'' expansion content until the release of ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]'', to which the most of the ''Age of Empires II'' community as a whole would move, leaving the ''HD Edition'' effectively abandoned. Its servers are still online, but seldom used.
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{Series|Age of Empires}}
 
−
'''Key points'''
 
−
{{++}} HD remake of the original [[Age of Empires II]] and its expansion, with Steam achievements and multiplayer, improved graphics and support for higher resolutions.
 
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
−
{{ii}} [http://blog.pcgamingwiki.com/port-report/600/port-report-age-of-empires-ii-hd-review Port Report on Age of Empires II HD]
+
{{ii}} [http://blog.pcgamingwiki.com/port-report/600/port-report-age-of-empires-ii-hd-review PC Report]
−
{{mm}} [http://steamcommunity.com/app/221380/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions] - currently this is locked for posting from users.
+
{{mm}} [https://discordapp.com/invite/ageofempires Official Discord server] for the series
−
{{mm}} [http://aoczone.net AoCZone] - a very large and active Age of Empires community.
+
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/221380/discussions/0/ Steam Community Discussions]
 +
{{mm}} [https://aoezone.net AoEZone] - an active Age of Empires community
 
{{mm}} [http://forums.ageofempiresonline.com/forums/default.aspx?GroupID=22 Age of Empires Online Forum] - the 'official' forum.
 
{{mm}} [http://forums.ageofempiresonline.com/forums/default.aspx?GroupID=22 Age of Empires Online Forum] - the 'official' forum.
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
−
{{Availability Table|
+
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://store.steampowered.com/app/221380/ Steam] | {{ID|Steam}} | }}
+
{{Availability/row| Humble | age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 221380 | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Amazon | B00CMSCTA2 | Steam |  |  | Windows | unavailable }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GMG | age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition | Steam |  |  | Windows | unavailable }}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Monetization==
 +
{{Monetization
 +
|ad-supported          =
 +
|dlc                    =
 +
|expansion pack        = The expansion packs include new civilizations, units and campaigns. They have a separate balance set that can be chosen in skirmishes and multiplayer. Players who own no expansion packs are given a limited number of civilizations in skirmish and multiplayer modes that rotate every day.
 +
|freeware              =
 +
|free-to-play          =
 +
|one-time game purchase = The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
 +
|sponsored              =
 +
|subscription          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{DLC|
 +
{{ii}} The Conquerors expansion is included in the base game.
 +
 
 +
{{DLC/row| The Forgotten | A tweaked and officially supported version of the ''Forgotten Empires'' mod for the original ''The Conquerors''. | Windows }}
 +
{{DLC/row| The African Kingdoms | | Windows }}
 +
{{DLC/row| Rise of the Rajas | | Windows }}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Skip intro videos===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Run the game with the <code>SKIPINTRO</code> [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]]|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/221380/discussions/0/496881136922215901/|title=The command line parameter -NoStartup doesn't seem to work any more :: Age of Empires II: HD Edition General Discussions|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Skip launcher===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Change launcher file|ref=<ref>[https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/topic/982-age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition-no-intro-movie-no-launcher/ Age of Empires II HD Edition | No Intro Movie / No launcher - Discussion - PCGamingWiki Community]</ref>|fix=
 +
# Go to the installation folder.
 +
# Delete or rename {{file|Launcher.exe}}.
 +
# Rename {{file|AoK HD.exe}} to {{file|Launcher.exe}}.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
−
===Save game location===
+
===Configuration file(s) location===
−
{{Game Location Table|
+
{{Game data|
−
{{Game Location Table/row|Windows (Save game location)|%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Steam\SteamApps\common\Age2HD\savegame\}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|appdata}}\Age2HD\}}
−
{{Game Location Table/row|Windows (Campaign files location)|%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Steam\SteamApps\common\Age2HD\Campaign\}}
 
−
{{Game Location Table/row|Windows (Scenario files location)|%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Steam\SteamApps\common\Age2HD\Scenario\}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 +
===Save game data location===
 +
{{Game data|
 +
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\savegame}}
 +
}}
 +
{{ii}} Custom campaigns are stored in {{file|{{p|game}}\resources\_common\Campaign|folder}}
 +
{{ii}} Custom scenarios are stored in {{file|{{p|game}}\resources\_common\Scenario|folder}}
 
{{++}} Custom campaigns initially made for the original game are compatible with the HD edition.
 
{{++}} Custom campaigns initially made for the original game are compatible with the HD edition.
  
−
===[[Save game cloud syncing]]===
+
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
−
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing|
+
{{Save game cloud syncing
−
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing/row| [[Steam Cloud]] | false | This feature is planned but does not appear to be implemented yet.<ref>[http://blog.pcgamingwiki.com/port-report/600/port-report-age-of-empires-ii-hd-review Port Report: Age of Empires II HD - The Port Report]</ref> }}
+
|discord                  =
−
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing/row| [[GameSave Manager]] | unknown | <!--In the database.--> }}
+
|discord notes            =
 +
|epic games launcher      =
 +
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                =
 +
|gog galaxy notes          =
 +
|origin                    =
 +
|origin notes              =
 +
|steam cloud              = true
 +
|steam cloud notes        =
 +
|ubisoft connect          =
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                =
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Video==
 +
{{Image|Age of Empires II HD Options.png|In-game options menu.}}
 +
{{Video
 +
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/age-empires-ii-hd-edition/en
 +
|widescreen wsgf award      = gold
 +
|multimonitor wsgf award    = silver
 +
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = gold
 +
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 +
|widescreen resolution      = true
 +
|widescreen resolution notes= Automatically sets itself at desktop resolution. FMV cutscenes are at 16:9.
 +
|multimonitor              = true
 +
|multimonitor notes        =
 +
|ultrawidescreen            = true
 +
|ultrawidescreen notes      =
 +
|4k ultra hd                = true
 +
|4k ultra hd notes          = See [[#Missing DPI scaling|Fix for missing DPI scaling]]
 +
|fov                        = n/a
 +
|fov notes                  = Isometric.
 +
|windowed                  = true
 +
|windowed notes            = Window can be freely resized to any resolution.
 +
|borderless windowed        = false
 +
|borderless windowed notes  = Always borderless on '''Fullscreen'''.
 +
|anisotropic                = n/a
 +
|anisotropic notes          =
 +
|antialiasing              = true
 +
|antialiasing notes        =
 +
|upscaling                  = unknown
 +
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 +
|vsync                      = true
 +
|vsync notes                =
 +
|60 fps                    = true
 +
|60 fps notes              = World Updates are 30 FPS for multiplayer.<ref name="FPS cap">[https://steamcommunity.com/app/221380/discussions/1/537405286641989153/ Patch 4.3 :: Age of Empires II: HD Edition News & Announcements]</ref>
 +
|120 fps                    = true
 +
|120 fps notes              = 10000 FPS default cap.<ref name="FPS cap"/> Change by entering <code>setmaxfps #</code> in chat, where the number is the desired framerate. <code>setuifps #</code> sets the framerate for the UI
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 +
|color blind                = unknown
 +
|color blind notes          =
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Video settings==
+
==Input==
−
[[File:AoEII_HD_settings.png|290px|right|thumb|General settings.]]
+
{{Image|Age of Empires II HD Remapping.png|In-game key map settings.}}
−
{{Video Settings
+
{{Input
−
|wsgf_link                  =
+
|key remap                = true
−
|widescreen_wsgf_award      =
+
|key remap notes          =  
−
|multimonitor_wsgf_award    =
+
|acceleration option      = false
−
|widescreen_resolution      =true
+
|acceleration option notes =
−
|widescreen_resolution_notes=
+
|mouse sensitivity        = true
−
|multimonitor               =true
+
|mouse sensitivity notes  = For scroll speed.
−
|multimonitor_notes         =
+
|mouse menu                = true
−
|windowed                  =true
+
|mouse menu notes          =
−
|windowed_notes            =
+
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
−
|borderless_windowed       =true
+
|invert mouse y-axis notes =
−
|borderless_windowed_notes =Enabled by default ("Full screen").
+
|touchscreen               = unknown
−
|anisotropic                =unknown
+
|touchscreen notes         =  
−
|anisotropic_notes         =
+
|controller support        = false
−
|antialiasing               =true
+
|controller support notes  =  
−
|antialiasing_notes         =
+
|full controller          = unknown
−
|vsync                      =true
+
|full controller notes    =
−
|vsync_notes                =
+
|controller remap          = unknown
 +
|controller remap notes    =
 +
|controller sensitivity    = unknown
 +
|controller sensitivity notes=
 +
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 +
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
 +
|xinput controllers       = unknown
 +
|xinput controllers notes =  
 +
|xbox prompts              = unknown
 +
|xbox prompts notes        =
 +
|impulse triggers         = unknown
 +
|impulse triggers notes    =  
 +
|dualshock 4               = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 notes        =
 +
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 +
|dualshock prompts notes  =
 +
|light bar support        = unknown
 +
|light bar support notes  =
 +
|dualshock 4 modes        = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 modes notes  =
 +
|tracked motion controllers= unknown
 +
|tracked motion controllers notes =
 +
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 +
|tracked motion prompts notes =
 +
|other controllers         = unknown
 +
|other controllers notes  =  
 +
|other button prompts      = unknown
 +
|other button prompts notes=
 +
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 +
|controller hotplug notes  =
 +
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 +
|haptic feedback notes    =
 +
|simultaneous input        = unknown
 +
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
|steam input api          = unknown
 +
|steam input api notes    =
 +
|steam hook input          = unknown
 +
|steam hook input notes    =
 +
|steam input presets      = unknown
 +
|steam input presets notes =
 +
|steam controller prompts  = unknown
 +
|steam controller prompts notes =
 +
|steam cursor detection    = unknown
 +
|steam cursor detection notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
==Audio==
−
{{Input Settings
+
{{Audio
−
|key_remap                  =true
+
|separate volume          = false
−
|key_remap_notes            =
+
|separate volume notes    = Master, Music.
−
|acceleration_option       =false
+
|surround sound          = false
−
|acceleration_option_notes =
+
|surround sound notes    =
−
|controller_support         =false
+
|subtitles                = true
−
|controller_support_notes   =
+
|subtitles notes          =
 +
|closed captions          = true
 +
|closed captions notes    =
 +
|mute on focus lost      = always on
 +
|mute on focus lost notes =
 +
|eax support              =  
 +
|eax support notes       =
 +
|royalty free audio      = always on
 +
|royalty free audio notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{L10n|content=
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = English
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Simplified Chinese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Dutch
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Hungarian
 +
|interface = hackable
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = hackable
 +
|notes    = Fan translation, available on: [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=731833542 Steam Workshop]
 +
|fan      = true
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Italian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
  |notes    =  
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Japanese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Korean
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Brazilian Portuguese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Russian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Spanish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Network==
 +
{{Network/Multiplayer
 +
|local play          =
 +
|local play players  =
 +
|local play modes    =
 +
|local play notes    =
 +
|lan play            = limited
 +
|lan play players    = 8
 +
|lan play modes      =
 +
|lan play notes      = Requires connection to the master server for lobby creation
 +
|online play          = true
 +
|online play players  = 8
 +
|online play modes    =
 +
|online play notes    =
 +
|asynchronous         =
 +
|asynchronous notes  =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Network/Connections
 +
|matchmaking        = true
 +
|matchmaking notes  =
 +
|p2p                = true
 +
|p2p notes          =
 +
|dedicated          = false
 +
|dedicated notes    =
 +
|self-hosting      = true
 +
|self-hosting notes =
 +
|direct ip          = false
 +
|direct ip notes    =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Network/Ports
 +
|tcp  =
 +
|udp  = 3478, 4379, 4380, 27000-27015, 27015-27030
 +
|upnp = unknown
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Issues fixed==
 +
===Missing DPI scaling===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Manually set scaling mode|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=862524297|title=&#91;Tutorial&#93; 4K support for AOE2 &#91;MOD&#93; - Steam Community|date=9 June 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Go to {{file|({{p|game}}|folder}}
 +
# Right-click on {{file|Launcher.exe}} and choose <code>Properties</code>.
 +
# Go to the <code>Compatibility</code> tab and check <code>Override high DPI scaling behavior.</code>
 +
# Set <code>Scaling performed by</code> to <code>System</code>.
 +
{{ii}} Do not choose <code>System (enhanced)</code> as it breaks the input.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Other information==
 +
===API===
 +
{{API
 +
|direct3d versions      = 9.0c
 +
|direct3d notes        =
 +
|directdraw versions    =
 +
|directdraw notes      =
 +
|opengl versions        =
 +
|opengl notes          =
 +
|glide versions        =
 +
|glide notes            =
 +
|software mode          =
 +
|software mode notes    =
 +
|mantle support        =
 +
|mantle support notes   =
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 +
|dos modes              =
 +
|dos modes notes        =
 +
|shader model versions  =
 +
|shader model notes    =
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app =
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app =
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 +
|linux executable notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Middleware===
 +
{{Middleware
 +
|physics          =
 +
|physics notes    =
 +
|audio            =
 +
|audio notes      =
 +
|interface        =
 +
|interface notes  =
 +
|input            =
 +
|input notes      =
 +
|cutscenes        =
 +
|cutscenes notes  =
 +
|multiplayer      = Steamworks
 +
|multiplayer notes=  
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==System requirements==
 
==System requirements==
−
{{System Requirements
+
{{System requirements
 
|OSfamily = Windows
 
|OSfamily = Windows
−
|minOS   = Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
+
 
−
|minproc = 1.2 GHz
+
|minOS   = Vista, 7, 8 Pro+
−
|minmem  = 1 GB
+
|minCPU  = 1.2 GHz
−
|minHD   = 2 GB
+
|minRAM  = 1 GB
−
|minGPU = DirectX 9.0c support
+
|minHD   = 2 GB
 +
|minGPU   =
 +
|minDX    = 9.0c
 +
 
 +
|recother = 900x600 minimum display resolution
 +
|notes    = {{ii}} This game requires a resolution of at least 900x600.
 +
{{ii}} Windows XP support has been discontinued; the last working version is available from the game's betas tab in the Steam client.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/221380/discussions/0/618458030678407688/|title=3.9 Discussion :: Age of Empires II: HD Edition General Discussions|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{ii}} This game requires a resolution of at least 900x600.
 
  
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}
−
 
−
[[Category:Windows]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:41, 18 January 2024

This page is for the 2013 HD Edition. For the original game, see Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. For the 2019 Definitive Edition, see Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

Age of Empires II: HD Edition
Age of Empires II: HD Edition cover
Developers
Hidden Path Entertainment
Ensemble Studios
DLC SkyBox Labs
Forgotten Empires
Publishers
Microsoft Studios
Engines
Genie
Release dates
Windows April 9, 2013
Reception
Metacritic 68
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase, Expansion pack
Microtransactions None
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view, Isometric
Controls Multiple select, Point and select
Genres RTS
Themes Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Pre-Columbian Americas, Medieval
Series Age of Empires
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Age of Empires II: HD Edition on HowLongToBeat
Age of Empires II: HD Edition on IGDB
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Age of Empires II: HD Edition on MobyGames
Age of Empires II: HD Edition on Wikipedia
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⤏ Go to series page
Age of Empires 1997
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999
Age of Mythology 2002
Age of Empires III 2005
Age of Empires Online 2011
Age of Empires II: HD Edition 2013
Age of Mythology: Extended Edition 2014
Age of Empires: Castle Siege 2014
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition 2018
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition 2019
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition 2020
Age of Empires IV 2021
Age of Mythology: Retold 2024

Age of Empires II: HD Edition (silently renamed on the Steam store page to Age of Empires II (2013) on August 15, 2019[1], later Age of Empires II (Retired) on January 14, 2024[2]) is an updated version of the 1999 Medieval RTS Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings and its The Conquerors expansion pack. It features native high resolution support and new multiplayer servers.

This version's first expansion, The Forgotten, was released in November 2013. It is an officially supported version of the Forgotten Empires mod for The Conquerors which had received an estimated 500.000 downloads prior to the official release of said expansion.[3] This was the point at which the mod's developers, the Forgotten Empires, would become involved with further development of the HD Edition and subsequently future releases of Age of Empires.

Two other expansions were released, each bringing new civilizations and campaigns: The African Kingdoms in November 2015 and Rise of the Rajas in 2016. These expansions would use a separate data set to the one used in the base game. Players who would not purchase any expansion would get free access to a limited set of expansion factions in multiplayer which would rotate daily.

The game was supported officially until patch 5.8 was released in September 2018, transferring all efforts to development and post-launch support for Definitive Edition.

With time, the game's multiplayer stability and responsiveness issues became more apparent, so players would move to the original version with back-ported HD Edition expansion content until the release of Definitive Edition, to which the most of the Age of Empires II community as a whole would move, leaving the HD Edition effectively abandoned. Its servers are still online, but seldom used.

General information

PC Report
Official Discord server for the series
Steam Community Discussions
AoEZone - an active Age of Empires community
Age of Empires Online Forum - the 'official' forum.

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Humble Store
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Windows
Steam
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Windows
Amazon.com (unavailable)
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Windows
Green Man Gaming (unavailable)
Icon overlay.png
Windows

Monetization

Type Notes
Expansion pack The expansion packs include new civilizations, units and campaigns. They have a separate balance set that can be chosen in skirmishes and multiplayer. Players who own no expansion packs are given a limited number of civilizations in skirmish and multiplayer modes that rotate every day.
One-time game purchase The game requires an upfront purchase to access.

DLC and expansion packs

The Conquerors expansion is included in the base game.
Name Notes
The Forgotten A tweaked and officially supported version of the Forgotten Empires mod for the original The Conquerors.
Windows
The African Kingdoms
Windows
Rise of the Rajas
Windows

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Run the game with the SKIPINTRO command line argument[4]

Skip launcher

Change launcher file[5]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Delete or rename Launcher.exe.
  3. Rename AoK HD.exe to Launcher.exe.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %APPDATA%\Age2HD\
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/221380/pfx/[Note 1]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\savegame[Note 2]
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/221380/pfx/[Note 1]
Custom campaigns are stored in <path-to-game>\resources\_common\Campaign
Custom scenarios are stored in <path-to-game>\resources\_common\Scenario
Custom campaigns initially made for the original game are compatible with the HD edition.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud

Video

In-game options menu.
In-game options menu.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
 
 Automatically sets itself at desktop resolution. FMV cutscenes are at 16:9.
Multi-monitor
 
Ultra-widescreen
 
4K Ultra HD
 
 See Fix for missing DPI scaling
Field of view (FOV)
Isometric.
Windowed
Window can be freely resized to any resolution.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Always borderless on Fullscreen.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
World Updates are 30 FPS for multiplayer.[6]
10000 FPS default cap.[6] Change by entering setmaxfps # in chat, where the number is the desired framerate. setuifps # sets the framerate for the UI
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
For scroll speed.
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Master, Music.
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Dutch
French
German
Hungarian
Fan translation, available on: Steam Workshop
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Brazilian Portuguese
Russian
Spanish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
8 Requires connection to the master server for lobby creation
Online play
8

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
UDP 3478, 4379, 4380, 27000-27015, 27015-27030
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues fixed

Missing DPI scaling

Manually set scaling mode[7]
  1. Go to (<path-to-game>
  2. Right-click on Launcher.exe and choose Properties.
  3. Go to the Compatibility tab and check Override high DPI scaling behavior.
  4. Set Scaling performed by to System.
Do not choose System (enhanced) as it breaks the input.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0c
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Multiplayer Steamworks

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) Vista, 7, 8 Pro+
Processor (CPU) 1.2 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 2 GB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 9.0c compatible
Other 900x600 minimum display resolution
This game requires a resolution of at least 900x600.
Windows XP support has been discontinued; the last working version is available from the game's betas tab in the Steam client.[8]


Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
  2. ↑ When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References