Microsoft Cancels DLC For Age Of Empires 3, Was Announced “Before It Had Been Built”

At the end of 2024, Microsoft’s Age of Empires team announced new DLC for Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition, but the studio has now canceled the expansion, saying the announcement itself was “premature.”

In a blog post (via PC Gamer), the developer said it canceled the DLC “after serious consideration,” going on to assure fans the decision “was not made lightly.”

Explaining what happened in the first place, Microsoft said it announced the DLC too early, “before it had been built.” Looking back on this, the team said, “We now feel that announcement was premature.”

“We know that this is a huge disappointment, and many of you were excited for more content. We were able to put out a patch for the game towards the end of last year but understand that it was not the size and scope you were hoping for,” the developer said.

The Age of Empires development team went on to say that, although the promised DLC is not coming, the studio will keep the game’s servers online and provide customer support services. The team also pointed fans to the official Age of Empires 3 mods page to find something new to play.

The canceled DLC was originally expected to launch in 2024, but was delayed indefinitely prior to its cancellation. Details about what the content would be were never disclosed.

The last expansion for Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition was 2022’s Knights of the Mediterranean. Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition is not the newest edition of the game, as Microsoft released Age of Empires IV in 2021 and Age of Mythology: Retold in 2024.