New Age of Empires Game Confirmed to Be in Development

Rumors about a new installment in the iconic Age of Empires franchise first surfaced in fall 2025, initially revealing only that the project was being developed using Unreal Engine 5. Since then, more concrete details have begun to emerge.

During the Xbox Two podcast, well-known insider and Windows Central journalist Jez Corden confirmed that a new Age of Empires title is actively in development. According to Corden, Microsoft views the franchise as a key pillar of its portfolio and is aiming for a large-scale release — a level of priority not shared by some of its other dormant IPs, such as Prototype.

Corden also explained that the development team chose to move away from proprietary engines in favor of Unreal Engine 5, citing its flexibility and stronger alignment with Microsoft’s long-term strategy. The engine is reportedly being custom-tailored to meet the specific demands of real-time strategy gameplay.

The project is currently in its early stages, with World’s Edge Studios leading development. However, Corden noted that additional studios are expected to join once the game enters full production, though no specific partners have been confirmed yet.

As for the release timeline, expectations remain cautious. The game is still so early in development that its setting has yet to be finalized. Industry speculation suggests the new Age of Empires could debut as part of the next-generation Xbox lineup in 2027 or 2028, though a later release remains possible.