The Age of Empires team has today announced the next DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. It's officially titled Chronicles: Battle for Greece and will be released on November 14, 2024.
This first chapter will introduce three new civilizations (Achaemenids, Athenians and Spartans) and also includes a 21-scenario campaign, voice acting and animated cutscenes. It's created by 'CaptureAge' - a team of Age veterans who have pushed the "core gameplay" of AoE II with multiple new features inspired by the time period as well as a complete visual overhaul.
Apart from all of this, players can also expect 55 new land units, 19 new naval units, 85 new buildings, an overhaul of the game's naval combat including a new gold resource at sea (Oysters), and unique civilization mechanics. Here's a bit more about it, courtesy of the official announcement:
Chronicles will also feature a complete naval overhaul with six types of military ships, new trading options with merchant ships, and a new gold resource which can be gathered at sea: Oysters! Plus, use special civilization mechanics, such as the ability to enact government policies and individually upgrade Town Centers to fine-tune the control over your empire. Innovative gameplay, including a unique naval combat system, and new technologies are all ready for you to explore and enjoy!
Age of Empires 2 is available on Xbox via Game Pass. It includes console controls, but you can also plug in a mouse and keyboard to recreate the classic PC experience. This new DLC is available to pre-order now for the discounted price of $12.74 (or your regional equivalent).