Age of Empires followers in China, save the date: Tuesday, March 29, will see the launch of Return to Empire, the cell model of the traditional real-time technique (RTS) recreation.
This marks the primary collaboration between Xbox and China’s TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent Video games that beforehand developed award-winning cell video games Honor of Kings, Name of Obligation: Cell, and Pokémon Unite. Honor of Kings was the top-grossing, free-of-charge recreation worldwide in 2020, making over 2.45 billion USD in income.
The 2 gaming giants’ partnership was first introduced in Could 2021, and the official trailer for the cell model of Age of Empires was launched in August that very same 12 months.
Over the previous few months, Chinese language gamers have loved entry to a number of rounds of beta exams by means of Return to Empire‘s official web site.
What’s extra, gameplay movies have been circulating on each Bilibili and YouTube, unleashing a wave of feedback from Chinese language players and Age of Empires aficionados worldwide.
Illustrations by followers on WeiboLaunched again within the glory days (the ’90s, after all — 1997, to be actual), Age of Empires sees gamers take management of an historical real-world civilization. Avid gamers extract assets, construct infrastructure, develop their economies, and conflict militarily with their enemies. Since Age of Empires‘ preliminary launch, the title has expanded right into a franchise of associated video games.
Many followers have expressed their pleasure over Return to Empire, however a handful stay skeptical concerning the recreation.
A number of Chinese language netizens query if the visuals and gameplay will maintain as much as these of Rise of Kingdoms, a preferred cell RTS recreation developed by Shanghainese cell recreation studio Lilith Video games.
In the meantime, a number of international players have criticized the preventing type of the cell recreation, saying that there’s an excessive amount of of a resemblance to Japanese anime. Some have additionally questioned the sport’s historic accuracy.
TiMi’s promotional campaigns for Return to Empire have been going full steam whatever the blended on-line reactions.
For instance, the studio initiated a partnership with International Sport Artwork Contest to carry a particular artwork competitors from December 2021 to March 2022. Contributors have been invited to submit art work impressed by the sport, as long as it suits in considered one of three classes: panorama design, character design, and illustration.
Incentivized by a money prize of 100,000 RMB (roughly 15,700 USD), followers from across the globe have been submitting a gentle stream of entries. The outcomes will probably be introduced in April this 12 months.
Character design artwork by followers on WeiboWill the cell model of Age of Empires comply with within the footsteps of Tower of Fantasy and get a world launch? Tencent has but to launch a press release on the matter, however right here’s to hoping it occurs (and doesn’t take lengthy!).
Cowl picture through Weibo
