Age of Empires IV – Update 16.1.9737 and Yue Fei’s Legacy DLC Release Preview

Big changes are right around the corner! In addition to Age of Empires IV: Yue Fei’s Legacy officially shipping and bringing the Jin Dynasty and a new 8-mission campaign with it on May 7th, we will also roll out some great quality of life features as well as balance changes, AI improvements, stability fixes, and more.With this update, we’re also introducing even more changes to the way Ranked Seasons and Events are managed to allow for more predictability in the future. Read on to learn more before jumping in game! This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!???? DISCUSS: Official Forum???? DISCUSS: Steam Forum???? JOIN: Official DiscordThanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Empires what it is today!—The Age of Empires TeamPlease Note: As part of updating to this latest build, any saved games and observable matches made on previous builds will be unable to be loaded or replayed. ◆Update 16.1.9737◆Season ThirteenRanked Season and Events UpdateRanked Season and Events UpdateBack at the start of Season Twelve, we mentioned we’d be unlocking seasonal content (biomes, maps and modes) across the board to allow them to be enjoyed more while also starting an event rotation to ensure there are plenty of chances to earn a specific profile portrait or banner item. With this season, all previously available seasonal game modes, biomes and maps are now available at any time in custom games – note that we have removed these options from Quick Match to allow for more effective matchmaking. And starting this season, we’re also rolling out a comprehensive calendar for Ranked Season and Event rotations. In the past, Ranked Seasons have generally been tied to an update; however, to enable more predictable ranked seasons in the future, we’re switching away from this format. Moving forward, there will be four three-month seasons per year, all accompanied by a variety of event challenges. While we’re kicking off this year’s Summer Season early on May 7th, in the future, all ranked seasons will start on the first day of a month at 10 a.m. PT and end three months later on the last day of the month at 10 a.m. PT. Ranked Season CalendarSpring Season: 1st March → last day of May Summer Season: 1st June → last day of August Fall Season: 1st September → last day of November Winter Season: 1st December → last day of February Event CalendarMap Pool RotationWe’re excited to share a new Ranked Map Pool rotation, featuring a fresh mix of maps and a new sheep spawn distribution. This update adds new maps to the pool alongside returning favorites. We’re looking forward to seeing how these additions and balance changes shape the ranked ladder.1v1 Ranked Map Pool Dry Arabia Sunkenlands Rocky River King of the Hill Archipelago Waterholes Relic River Wasteland Hill and Dale Team Ranked Map Pool Dry Arabia Rocky River Sunkenlands Forts Archipelago African Waters Gorge West Lake Hedgemaze New Map Spotlight - Coming with Yue Fei's Legacy DLCWe’re thrilled to be releasing four new maps alongside Yue Fei’s Legacy on May 7th, some of which will be included in ranked pools. You can find more details on each map below. AscensionA river cascades down a steep hill. At the top of the hill lie riches in gold and stone. Teams face off across the river from each other and must work their way up the hill for access to gold, stone, trade and sacred sites. The river is too deep at the bottom to cross but is passable higher up the hill. Ascend the hill and stake your claim! Fangs Jagged mountains rise up to the sky surrounded by dense woods and a shrouded layer of stealth woods. Penetrate the stealth woods to harvest lumber but beware of the wolves! This mostly open map still provides some opportunity for fortifications. Danger and opportunity await near the fangs. Snake RiverA mighty river snakes around opposing teams creating protection and opportunity. Use the river strategically to gather fish, help defend your base, and grant you access to resources. West Lake A large shallow lake dominates the center of the map. The lake is traversable by foot and at its center lies a difficult to defend sacred site. Docks and ships cannot be built on this map, making control of the center of the map more challenging. Sheep Distribution The new DLC maps, as well as Dry Arabia, Baltic, and Gorge feature an updated Sheep distribution which places more sheep near each player’s starting base while leaving a smaller number of neutral sheep across the map. We will be monitoring the results and decide whether to expand this change to more maps or adjust further. This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!:alertalert: DISCLAIMERThis list is subject to change and should not be considered a co

May 1, 2026 - 03:10

Age of Empires IV – Update 16.1.9737 and Yue Fei’s Legacy DLC Release Preview

Big changes are right around the corner! In addition to Age of Empires IV: Yue Fei’s Legacy officially shipping and bringing the Jin Dynasty and a new 8-mission campaign with it on May 7th, we will also roll out some great quality of life features as well as balance changes, AI improvements, stability fixes, and more.

With this update, we’re also introducing even more changes to the way Ranked Seasons and Events are managed to allow for more predictability in the future.

Read on to learn more before jumping in game!

This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!

???? DISCUSS: Official Forum
???? DISCUSS: Steam Forum
???? JOIN: Official Discord

Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Empires what it is today!

—The Age of Empires Team

Please Note: As part of updating to this latest build, any saved games and observable matches made on previous builds will be unable to be loaded or replayed.

◆Update 16.1.9737◆

Season Thirteen

Ranked Season and Events Update

Ranked Season and Events Update
Back at the start of Season Twelve, we mentioned we’d be unlocking seasonal content (biomes, maps and modes) across the board to allow them to be enjoyed more while also starting an event rotation to ensure there are plenty of chances to earn a specific profile portrait or banner item.

With this season, all previously available seasonal game modes, biomes and maps are now available at any time in custom games – note that we have removed these options from Quick Match to allow for more effective matchmaking. And starting this season, we’re also rolling out a comprehensive calendar for Ranked Season and Event rotations. In the past, Ranked Seasons have generally been tied to an update; however, to enable more predictable ranked seasons in the future, we’re switching away from this format.

Moving forward, there will be four three-month seasons per year, all accompanied by a variety of event challenges. While we’re kicking off this year’s Summer Season early on May 7th, in the future, all ranked seasons will start on the first day of a month at 10 a.m. PT and end three months later on the last day of the month at 10 a.m. PT.

Ranked Season Calendar
Spring Season: 1st March → last day of May
Summer Season: 1st June → last day of August
Fall Season: 1st September → last day of November
Winter Season: 1st December → last day of February

Event Calendar

Map Pool Rotation
We’re excited to share a new Ranked Map Pool rotation, featuring a fresh mix of maps and a new sheep spawn distribution. This update adds new maps to the pool alongside returning favorites. We’re looking forward to seeing how these additions and balance changes shape the ranked ladder.

1v1 Ranked Map Pool
Dry Arabia
Sunkenlands
Rocky River
King of the Hill
Archipelago
Waterholes
Relic River
Wasteland
Hill and Dale
Team Ranked Map Pool
Dry Arabia
Rocky River
Sunkenlands
Forts
Archipelago
African Waters
Gorge
West Lake
Hedgemaze

New Map Spotlight - Coming with Yue Fei's Legacy DLC
We’re thrilled to be releasing four new maps alongside Yue Fei’s Legacy on May 7th, some of which will be included in ranked pools. You can find more details on each map below.

Ascension
A river cascades down a steep hill. At the top of the hill lie riches in gold and stone. Teams face off across the river from each other and must work their way up the hill for access to gold, stone, trade and sacred sites. The river is too deep at the bottom to cross but is passable higher up the hill. Ascend the hill and stake your claim!
Fangs
Jagged mountains rise up to the sky surrounded by dense woods and a shrouded layer of stealth woods. Penetrate the stealth woods to harvest lumber but beware of the wolves! This mostly open map still provides some opportunity for fortifications. Danger and opportunity await near the fangs.
Snake River
A mighty river snakes around opposing teams creating protection and opportunity. Use the river strategically to gather fish, help defend your base, and grant you access to resources.
West Lake
A large shallow lake dominates the center of the map. The lake is traversable by foot and at its center lies a difficult to defend sacred site. Docks and ships cannot be built on this map, making control of the center of the map more challenging.

Sheep Distribution
The new DLC maps, as well as Dry Arabia, Baltic, and Gorge feature an updated Sheep distribution which places more sheep near each player’s starting base while leaving a smaller number of neutral sheep across the map.

We will be monitoring the results and decide whether to expand this change to more maps or adjust further.

This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!

:alertalert: DISCLAIMER
This list is subject to change and should not be considered a comprehensive list of all the known issues we’re tracking. The above is to inform you of the team’s current priorities, which will change as other issues arise or take precedence.

For the latest updates and announcements, please visit our social channels.

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