Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition launches on macOS via Steam on 28 May

Publisher Feral Interactive has announced that Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition will arrive on macOS via Steam on 28 May. This release marks a significant milestone for the franchise, representing the first time the Definitive Edition has been available on Apple's operating system since the original title launched on PC in 2019. Furthermore, it stands as the first Microsoft title to reach Mac since Psychonauts 2 in 2021.

The port was developed in collaboration with World's Edge, the studio that has managed the Age of Empires franchise for Microsoft since 2019. The initial Mac release will include the original Age of Kings content alongside the highly regarded Conquerors expansion. It also features three specific downloadable campaigns: Lords of the West, Dynasties of India, and Dawn of the Dukes.

As a remake of a classic, the version includes updated graphics and music, as well as approximately two decades of quality-of-life improvements. For players interested in multiplayer, the game is expected to maintain a robust community, with around 20,000 concurrent players currently active on Steam. Access to many of the civilizations available in the game will be included for the multiplayer experience.

Regarding future content, all downloadable content available for the PC version will be accessible on the Mac version, though it will require separate purchase. This includes the most recent expansion, The Last Chieftains, as well as any subsequent releases. The publisher has confirmed that an App Store release is scheduled to follow later in the year, though no specific date has been provided.

This launch follows the original game's arrival on Mac in 2001, meaning the Definitive Edition is finally joining the platform seven years after its initial PC debut. Despite the long wait for a new Microsoft title on the system, the enduring popularity of the strategy genre suggests a strong market for the port.