There are strong indications that future games in the Age of Empires franchise might be developed using Unreal Engine 5. This speculation arises from several points. First, the upcoming game *Age of Mythology: Retold*, which is part of the Age of Empires franchise, has been confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5, as evident from its visually stunning trailer and gameplay footage revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024[2].

Additionally, there has been significant criticism regarding the graphics and performance of the current *Age of Empires IV*, which uses the Essence Engine by Relic Entertainment. This engine has been criticized for not supporting DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and for various graphical and performance issues. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 could address these criticisms, as it is known for its excellent graphics and performance capabilities, including support for DLSS[1].

The move to Unreal Engine 5 is further supported by the fact that Relic Entertainment, the previous developer of *Age of Empires IV*, is no longer heavily involved with the franchise after recent layoffs and its sale by Sega. This transition could pave the way for World’s Edge, the current developers, to utilize Unreal Engine 5 for future titles, given its widespread support and capabilities[1].

In summary, the combination of the positive reception of *Age of Mythology: Retold* using Unreal Engine 5, the criticisms of the current engine used in *Age of Empires IV*, and the potential benefits of Unreal Engine 5 suggest that future Age of Empires games are likely to use this engine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.