AoE2 DB

Game Guide

Where you can play Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, what the editions and DLC actually include, and the fastest path from your first match to the ranked ladder.

Where you can play

The Definitive Edition is on PC, Xbox, PS5 and Mac, with crossplay across PC, Xbox and PS5 — Nintendo Switch is the only platform it skips. Here's the full picture, device by device.

  • PC (Windows)Available

    The main version, on Steam and the Microsoft Store. Where ranked ladder and the modding scene live.

  • Xbox Series X|S and Xbox OneAvailable

    A full console port with a controller-first interface. Included with Game Pass, so you can try it without buying.

  • PlayStation 5Available

    Available on PS5 since May 6, 2025 (Premium Edition early access from May 1) — a full port of the PC edition. It's PS5 only; there's no PS4 version.

  • Mac (macOS)Available

    An Apple silicon–native macOS version, ported by Feral Interactive, arrived May 28, 2026 on Steam. If you already own the game on Steam, the Mac version is included at no extra cost.

  • Nintendo SwitchNot available

    No Switch release. The game isn't available on any Nintendo hardware.

Editions & DLC

  • Definitive Edition

    The current edition and the one this database covers — a full remaster of the 1999 original, released November 14, 2019, with every expansion folded in, 4K art, rebalanced civs and the ranked ladder.

  • Expansions (Lords of the West, Dawn of the Dukes, Dynasties of India, The Mountain Royals, The Three Kingdoms, The Last Chieftains and more)

    A steady run of DLC keeps adding new civilizations and story campaigns on top of the base game. They're optional — you can play and ladder without them. Chronicles (Battle for Greece, Alexander the Great) is different: it's a separate game mode with its own historical rosters that sit outside the ranked ladder.

Browse what the expansions add in the civilizations list and the campaign timeline.

Getting started

New to the game? You don't need to learn everything at once. Pick a forgiving civilization, drill one opening until it's automatic, and learn what beats what. These pages are the shortest path:

  • Build orders

    Learn one opening — Scouts or Archers — and repeat it. A clean build order is the single biggest jump in strength for a new player.

  • Counter matrix

    Every unit has a hard counter. Check what beats what before you commit your gold to an army.

  • Hotkeys

    A handful of keys — idle villager, Town Center, control groups — do most of the work. Learn those first.

Frequently asked

Is Age of Empires II on PS5 or PS4?
It's on PS5 — Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition launched on PlayStation 5 on May 6, 2025. There's no PS4 version, so you need a PS5 to play it on PlayStation.
Is Age of Empires II on Xbox?
Yes. The Definitive Edition has a full Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One port with a controller-first interface, and it's included with Game Pass.
Is there crossplay between PC, Xbox and PS5?
Yes. PC, Xbox and PS5 players can all play together. On PlayStation you link a free Microsoft (Xbox) account to enable cross-platform matches.
Is Age of Empires II on Switch or Mac?
There's a native Mac version — an Apple silicon macOS build by Feral Interactive arrived May 28, 2026 on Steam, free if you already own the game there. There's still no Nintendo Switch release.
How many civilizations are there?
Standard ranked play has more than 50 civilizations, each with its own bonuses, unique units and unique technologies (the Three Kingdoms civs — Shu, Wei, Wu, Jurchens and Khitans — are full standard civs, not a separate mode). On top of that, the Chronicles game mode (Battle for Greece, Alexander the Great) has its own roster that sits outside the ranked ladder.
Is Age of Empires II free?
It's a paid game on Steam and Xbox, but it's included with Game Pass — if you subscribe, you can play the full game at no extra cost.