[PC, Steam] Free: Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (Unlimited Demo / Trial with Multiplayer) @ Steam

Taegukgi on 03/08/2023 - 09:58
Last edited 11/05/2024 - 13:58 by 2 other users

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Reason: Deal poster mislabelled the game as Free to Play, which implies that the full AOE III experience could be played without paying. It has been later clarified that this is a game demo with some cut content (but includes unlimited playtime and unrestricted access to Multiplayer with all 16 Civilisations selectable).

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is launching a new way to play! For the first time, new players can now join the ranks of this historical and stunning RTS experience with a rotating roster of the game’s 16 civilizations which can be played in both single player and multiplayer games FREE of purchase on Steam.

Now is the time to try Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition! Play for the first time or current AoE III: DE players can invite their friends for epic battles in striking 4K Ultra HD graphics.

Starting today, AoE III: DE will be offering new players the opportunity to play from a selection of rotating civilizations and other features like the ‘Blood’ Story Mode campaign, the Algiers Historical Battle, along with the tutorial and The Art of War challenge. And now, all players will be able to join in on monthly global events to unlock new Hero Cosmetics!

Information added 11-May-2024 for more context as to what this game includes:

The trial version provides access to a rotating roster of the full game's 16 civilizations to play freely in both single player and multiplayer games, a first look at the 'Blood' Story Mode campaign, the Algiers Historical Battle, along with the tutorial and The Art of War challenge missions to learn and master the game.

Jump online to play with your friends or to battle your way through a select group of random maps in skirmish games against the AI. Whichever way you choose to play, you will enjoy the stunning graphics, the fully remastered soundtrack, and modernized RTS gameplay in this third installment of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise.

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Comments

  • Jimbuscus on 03/08/2023 - 10:17
    +35

    AOE3 Free to Play, that was unexpected.

    I got AOE4 and ended up going back to AOE2:DE, it originally came out in the 1900's and it still hasn't been topped.

    • DiscountForThee on 03/08/2023 - 10:21
      +89

      One of the great milestones of the 1900's: powered flight, the invention of the transistor, and Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

      • drew442 on 03/08/2023 - 16:38
        +15

        "Age of Empires II: A Monumental Breakthrough"

        As we glance retrospectively at the 20th century, it's impossible to overlook some of the monumental advancements that left indelible footprints on the fabric of human civilization. Notably, the birth of powered flight that brought the clouds within our grasp, the transistor which shrunk vast computational power into the palm of our hands, and the harnessing of atomic energy which - quite literally - split the nature of reality. But, in this trove of remarkable breakthroughs, a diamond remains inadequately polished - Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

        Now, some might raise an eyebrow, questioning the audacity to put AOE2 on the same pedestal as such ground-breaking feats. Yet, ponder this - just as the Wright brothers enabled us to fly without feathers, Age of Empires II gifted humanity with the power to traverse through time without a time machine.

        Much like the transistor revolutionized the world of communication, Age of Empires II transformed history from a dusty, book-laden subject into an interactive, edge-of-the-seat adventure. In this digital realm, historical battles were no longer things of the past. Indeed, with a few clicks, any teenager in their bedroom could command armies, create empires, and essentially - play God. It was not merely a game, it was a transistor for the imagination.

        As flight shrunk our world, turning distant continents into next-door neighbors, Age of Empires II performed a similar act of spatial wizardry. It turned our computer screens into digital arenas where the geography of conflict was limited only by our Wi-Fi connections. With this game, anyone could make a friend in Tokyo, a rival in London, and an ally in Sydney - all during lunch break.

        The harnessing of atomic energy unlocked a Pandora’s box of possibilities and risks. Similarly, Age of Empires II unveiled an uncharted frontier - the digital economy. One could argue that every cryptocurrency transaction today is, in a sense, a child of the economic system pioneered in the Age of Kings, where gold, stone, wood, and food were the only currencies that mattered.

        To conclude, to compare Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings with powered flight, the transistor, and atomic energy, might seem an act of ludicrous exaggeration to the uninitiated. Yet, when we reflect upon the game's influence on education, global culture, technology, and economy, its place in the pantheon of 20th-century milestones seems less absurd. Thus, we salute this monument of digital entertainment for its understated yet profound impact on the trajectory of human civilization.

        • Babagun on 03/08/2023 - 17:38
          -1

          +1 to what could possibly be the best OZB post ever written!

          • Elijha on 03/08/2023 - 18:30
            +8

            @Babagun: by a bot

            • Meconium on 03/08/2023 - 19:00
              +3

              @Elijha: "It was not merely a game, it was a transistor for the imagination."

              Nice botaphor

            • drew442 on 04/08/2023 - 07:56

              @Elijha: yes, of course a bot. a fun read nonetheless…

          • Mantzy on 04/08/2023 - 13:36
            +1

            @Babagun: Personally, I count the reveal of the conspiracies of Big Tong to be up there as a great post.

            https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/726609 - also involving @Elijha….another conspiracy?

          • Goremans on 06/08/2023 - 13:59

            @Babagun: That was 100% Ai generated, i just made an open ai account and have bee having a blast

        • gringo on 01/02/2024 - 12:29

          Just wait till you play the Nindendo DS version

    • fwhite on 03/08/2023 - 10:22
      +3

      And even AOE4 will be f2p before AOE2, if ever.

    • non-core promise on 03/08/2023 - 10:53
      +4

      You mean the 1990s? You're not that old.

      • xoom on 03/08/2023 - 11:11
        +4

        Jimbuscus is a centenarian gamer. 🤣

      • Vool on 03/08/2023 - 13:51
        +4

        The 1900s runs from 1900 to 1999, so what they said was accurate.

        • Aequitas on 03/08/2023 - 14:28
          -4

          generally it refers to 1900 - 1909

          • DiscountForThee on 03/08/2023 - 14:35
            +1

            @Aequitas:

            The term "nineteen-hundreds" is sometimes also used to mean the entire century from January 1, 1900 to December 31, 1999 (the years beginning with "19")

            • Aequitas on 03/08/2023 - 15:14
              -6

              @DiscountForThee:

              generally

              sometimes

              Nothing in your quote conflicts with what I said, so what's your point?

              Even where you took that line from says it is normally referring to the decade:

              The 1900s (pronounced "nineteen-hundreds") was a decade that began on January 1, 1900, and ended on December 31, 1909. The Edwardian era (1901–1910) covers a similar span of time. The term "nineteen-hundreds" is sometimes also used to mean the entire century from January 1, 1900 to December 31, 1999 (the years beginning with "19").

              • DiscountForThee on 03/08/2023 - 15:24
                +1

                @Aequitas: I'm saying that Vool isn't wrong, it absolutely can run from 1900 to 1999

                Another source:

                Similarly when we say "20th Century," we are referring to the 1900s.

                • Aequitas on 03/08/2023 - 15:33
                  -7

                  @DiscountForThee: When did i say it was wrong? I said that its normally used as reference to a decade. Its not the best usage here (and i would actually call it wrong) because of the lack of context, so most people would take it as the normal/main use of the word. That quote demonstrates a good usage because context has already established that its talking about a century.

                  • DiscountForThee on 03/08/2023 - 16:08
                    +1

                    @Aequitas: Just because something is used a certain way less often (but still correct, and well understood) way, does not mean they're wrong but we on same page with that so ez pz :D

    • Cyphar on 03/08/2023 - 11:01

      Runs great on the Steamdeck as well using the trackpad.

    • bcYield on 03/08/2023 - 16:37
      -1

      AOE2 release date: 30 Sep 1999

      So late 1990s would be better?

    • The Wololo Wombat on 03/08/2023 - 19:36
      +3

      My entire personality is based on this game.

    • perfectlydark on 03/08/2023 - 22:10
      +2

      Braces for negs..

      I like AOE4. Is it as tight as 2? no. But I find it fun to play

  • BarryBargain88 on 03/08/2023 - 10:19
    +1

    Anyone know how to run this on an m1 Mac? Or even aoe2?

    • cliener on 03/08/2023 - 10:26
      +2

      They run happily with Parallels + WIndows which isn't the easiest but works

    • LibreFish on 03/08/2023 - 10:27
      +1

      GeForce Now

    • Albino Man on 03/08/2023 - 10:35
      +5

      Initially I thought your chances of getting anything to play on an ARM processor would be quite slim, but I did a cursory google for you and found some resources that might help get you started…
      * How to Run the New Age of Empires III DE on a Mac with Parallels Desktop
      * Parallels Desktop for Mac with Apple M1 chip
      * /r/macgaming/ on Reddit
      * AppleGamingWiki M1 compatible games master list

      I also share your pain of wanting to play games on a non-windows Machine. But the future of multiple-OS game releases is bright… If Microsoft stop buying every game studio under the sun.

      • Agret on 03/08/2023 - 10:42
        +3

        Multi-os game releases was doing pretty well on Mac but Apple refused to update the ancient version of opengl they had in MacOS, then they stopped 32 bit support, then they moved to ARM so on a new Mac you won't find much that runs natively.

        For max compatibility and biggest library you are best to get an Intel based Mac with decent specs and install MacOS Mojave which was the last version to support 32bit binaries.

        The alternative of Linux as an alternative OS is making big progress thanks to Valves Steam Deck. This doesn't apply to any ARM based hardware but you can certainly try it out on an x64 gaming computer.

        • Zorlin on 04/08/2023 - 13:01

          For max compatibility and biggest library you are best to get an Intel based Mac with decent specs and install MacOS Mojave which was the last version to support 32bit binaries.

          …and then never put it on the internet, because it's easy as hell to break into :)

        • doobey1231 on 28/02/2024 - 14:58

          Given their focus on gaming performance in recent years I think that is going to change. There is a surprising amount of games in my library that are actually compatible on my mac

      • ESEMCE on 01/02/2024 - 12:13

        Easier and cheaper (at less than $100, vs $139/yr or $179 lifetime for Parallels Desktop) to buy a Core i5-6500T micro desktop just to play this on.
        Even with just Integrated Graphics it exceeds the recommended requirement.

    • Cave Fire on 03/08/2023 - 13:56

      Something called "crossover" as well. https://www.reddit.com/r/aoe2/comments/qu6elc/aoe_ii_de_work…

    • serpserpserp on 03/08/2023 - 18:03

      You could probably run it in greyscale

      • BarryBargain88 on 03/08/2023 - 20:35

        Prefer colour

        • blitz on 17/08/2023 - 17:56

          What about scanlines?

    • dranix on 01/02/2024 - 12:16

      I play AOE2 DE on my M1 Mac using porting kit

  • Mugsy on 03/08/2023 - 10:25
    +12

    I bought AOE3 Complete Edition a while back and still haven't played it… and the DE is available F2P - lol

    My pile of shame is ridiculously huge. I'm gonna need another 10 lifetimes to get through it.

    • kaleidoscope on 03/08/2023 - 10:44
      +1

      I'm gonna need another 10 lifetimes to get through it.

      if only you believe in reincarnation and parallel universes

    • Agret on 03/08/2023 - 10:46
      +8

      The definitive edition isn't available free to play, that's just the title of it on Steam so what shows up for the free version too. The free version is a cutdown version.

      Here is what the full upgrade says:

      ABOUT THIS CONTENT
      Unlock the full game experience of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. Enjoy all of the paid features including: 16 Civilizations from the Aztecs to the Swedes, all maps, Story Mode campaigns, 6 Historical battles , scenario editor, mods, profile icons, and ranked multiplayer.

    • Grale on 03/08/2023 - 11:57

      i bought the trilogy and still replaying AOE1's campaign….

  • coxymla on 03/08/2023 - 10:29
    +4

    All peoples come from somewhere. But where?
    In Age of Empires 3, that place is your Home City.

  • darkly on 03/08/2023 - 10:32
    +17

    Looks like there is also a free DLC Cosmetic Pack: Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition – Hero Cosmetic Pack – Lizzie

  • phamaroo on 03/08/2023 - 10:44
    +2

    I've just gotten back into AOE2 (2013 edition) after many years. This is very welcome news as I was looking to expand my collection. Thank you!

  • veetor on 03/08/2023 - 10:49
    +7

    The Definitive Edition is essentially a demo? That's some interesting naming.

    • Viper8 on 03/08/2023 - 14:41
      +3

      No. This free access is essentially a demo to DE.
      You're not getting the full DE game for free, rather a taster.

    • Meconium on 03/08/2023 - 19:08

      AOE3 Definitive Edition (Miser's Option)

    • trongy on 04/08/2023 - 08:50

      AOE III: Definitive Edition (2020) was a complete re-write of the gaming engine with all the content from the original and HD editions and all expansion packs for those prior editions.

      From what I can glean, this same named playable demo has 3 Civs available at any given time and they rotate on a weekly basis.

      TBH, that's probably all I will need to satisfy my needs. I didn't enjoy AOE III as much as the first two.

  • Joxer on 03/08/2023 - 11:19
    -5

    I mean it's no Starcraft

    • tomleonhart on 03/08/2023 - 11:39
      -1

      SC2 you meant. Sc2 the great !

    • Cave Fire on 03/08/2023 - 13:57

      Sc3 in development…

      • bobzor on 03/08/2023 - 23:10
        -1

        ScGhost not

    • payton on 08/08/2023 - 10:37

      I mean it's no Starcraft

      select and group 13 units

  • garygaz on 03/08/2023 - 11:30
    +4

    Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is launching a new way to play! For the first time, new players can now join the ranks of this historical and stunning RTS experience with a rotating roster of the game’s 16 civilizations which can be played in both single player and multiplayer games FREE of purchase on Steam.

    a rebranded demo?

  • damoday on 03/08/2023 - 11:44
    +2

    Ah AOE3 was one of my all-time favorite games growing up. I'll never forget the Friday nights of playing 4-hour games, running the window at 600x400 because the cannon particles would cause insane lag. Or being 4 hours into a game and then it crashes with an 'out of sync' error.

    Good things about aoe3
    * Its the last aoe rts game that was actually snappy, none of this new 'it takes 2 seconds for a click to register'
    * It's extremely well balanced
    * It's ranking system just works, you will always find balanced games (elo based)

    The downfall is that you need to level up your home city in order to get the best cards for your home city deck.
    There's also a bit of a learning curve on how to play different civilisations on different maps.
    Playing against the computer is useless, not sure if they've fixed the AI in the DE version.

    Overall, smashing deal. I hope this repopulates the servers so I can get back on it.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2023 - 12:25
      -4

      my all-time favorite games growing up.

      RELEASE DATE: 16 Oct, 2020

      How old are you and what age did you start playing games ?

      Never mind: Initial release date: 18 October 2005

    • dbmitch on 03/08/2023 - 12:58
      +2

      The Ai that cheats with increased resource ticks on the highest levels?

      hate that garbo, same with Civilisation 6, the AI isn't playing better, they're just cheating.

  • lordezekiel on 03/08/2023 - 12:09
    +5

    So this is just a thoroughly incomplete version of the game? Some might even consider this a trial or demo…

    • colaman on 08/08/2023 - 19:14
      +2

      I literally see trial and base game when clicking on the link. Trial free and base game costs so not sure what the bargain is unless I am missing something.

  • jollyrogga on 03/08/2023 - 13:29
    +7

    Make sure you grab the FREE DLC as well!
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2154360/Age_of_Empires_II…

    • BH1 on 04/08/2023 - 08:20
      +1

      Legend.. thanks!

  • Ventak on 03/08/2023 - 14:15

    Free is nice. I played the original back in 2005 (not to mention getting the demo off a PC magazine), then picked up the collection on Steam, but never upgraded to the definitive edition. Plus free players can host games too which is really great.

  • MrThing on 03/08/2023 - 15:36
    +1

    AOE 2 is still better

    Hence why its still not free

  • bcYield on 04/08/2023 - 00:01
    +1

    Used to be 3x CDs of AOE3 and now steam requires 50GB lol

    • hollykryten on 07/08/2023 - 14:54
      +1

      To be fair the original AOE3 didn't include 4K high resolution textures.

      • bcYield on 08/08/2023 - 01:27

        True and now I am adding a new SSD

  • Mr Bob Dobalina on 04/08/2023 - 03:38
    +1

    Hmm how is this "free to play" when you can only play the first single player campaign?

    • hollykryten on 07/08/2023 - 14:58

      Yes i think the free version only includes part of the game. You need to purchase the base game (which is $29.95) to get all the campaigns. It's like a limited trial.

  • BH1 on 04/08/2023 - 08:19

    Ohhh baby thats awesome!

    Thanks OP!

  • hollykryten on 07/08/2023 - 15:00

    Hey peoples. You're not getting the full AOE3 Definitive Edition game with this. You're only getting the "Free" version which is a stripped down sort of like trial version.

    To get the full version is a $29.95 purchase for the base game.

    It says so on the game page.

    "About This Game
    Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition offers players a trial of this historical single & multiplayer RTS experience. Enjoy diverse civilizations, co-op historical battles, stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics and modernized gameplay. For more ongoing fun, content unlocks will rotate monthly, which includes rotating civilizations, Hero Cosmetics and events - so come play often! Jump into the robust community – and invite a friend to play today!
    *Note: To unlock all features of the game please see the “Base Game” product."

  • Tyler Kwok on 07/08/2023 - 22:28

    This is rubbish allowing you to play about 5% of the game for free.

    • hollykryten on 24/08/2023 - 10:08

      Yeah because the free version is a cut down version. It's not the full game.

  • daredevilboy on 09/08/2023 - 11:08

    Yeah, agree with others. This is not free, this is basically demo.

  • satriamjati on 22/10/2023 - 15:50

    Its free version is basically a trial (cut version) but enjoyable. You have no time limit. You also have access to multiplayer.

  • augernised on 01/02/2024 - 11:56

    This is a demo

  • bigbadaboom on 01/02/2024 - 12:08

    the AOE2 success after the relaunch on Steam has been incredible + growing online community for 20+ year old game.
    Don't know much about AOE3, thanks OP, will have a go!

  • Wonderfool on 01/02/2024 - 12:12

    This is a smart demo. AoE's best feature is the single player game, so lock that behind the pay wall, and keep multiplayer free to boost population.

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