Age Of Empires IV Knights Of The Cross And Rose Expansion Now Live

Key Highlights:

• Two new variant civilisations: Knights Templar (French) and House of Lancaster (English).
• Introduces Historical Battles mode and 10 new skirmish/multiplayer maps.
• Adds Season 10 content, including Points of Interest (POIs) and new ranked map rotations.

The Knights of the Cross & Rose expansion for Age of Empires IV is officially live across Steam, Xbox, and the Microsoft Store, bringing with it a layered blend of real history, strategic innovation, and fresh gameplay mechanics.

This DLC marks a notable turning point in AoE IV’s lifecycle, not only deepening the historical theme but also reinforcing gameplay variety for competitive and casual players alike.

Knights Templar and House of Lancaster: Unique Civilisation Variants

At the heart of this expansion are two new civilisations rooted in distinct historical lineages: the Knights Templar and the House of Lancaster. Rather than introducing completely new factions, these serve as variant civilisations, reimagining the gameplay identities of the French and English, respectively, with new mechanics, aesthetics, and battlefield roles.

Knights Templar (French Variant)

• Unique Units: The Teuton Knight returns, a heavy infantry unit beloved by AoE II veterans.
• Combat Focus: Aggressive, religiously infused military strategies.
• Historical Narrative: Lead these legendary warriors in iconic clashes like the Battle of Montgisard, where they famously repelled Saladin’s forces.

House of Lancaster (English Variant)

• Gameplay Style: Balanced between economic growth and strong defence.
• Key Mechanic: The Manor structure, capable of training Levies (infantry) and boosting economy simultaneously.
• Historical Context: Players engage in post-Towton scenarios against Yorkist opposition, reflecting the civil unrest of the Wars of the Roses.

These civilisations were developed with heavy input from player feedback, making them a blend of historical authenticity and community-driven design — a rare attribute in most RTS expansions.

Historical Battles: A New Single-Player Experience

The introduction of Historical Battles offers more than just nostalgia — it redefines single-player scenarios in Age of Empires IV.

Unlike traditional campaigns, these battles focus on specific, pivotal moments in medieval history, including conflicts where both featured civilisations played a decisive role.

• Replay Value: Each battle includes medal-based objectives and an optional Conqueror mode for added challenge.
• Narrative Shift: These battles lean into realism over fictional storytelling, appealing to players seeking accurate representations of military history.

This mode expands AOE IV’s storytelling framework by focusing not on empires, but on flashpoints — strategic encounters that shaped eras.

New Maps, Achievements, and Season 10 Features

Beyond its historical core, Knights of the Cross & Rose adds 10 new multiplayer and skirmish maps, enriching terrain diversity and tactical variation across game modes.

Complementing these are 15 new achievements, offering challenges tied to both new civs and game modes.

The DLC also syncs with the Season 10 update, introducing:

• Points of Interest (POIs): Neutral zones scattered across the map that can be captured for rewards like extra resources or relics.
  • Mechanic Value: POIs create a risk vs reward dynamic — large unit investments can yield significant power swings.
• Ranked Map Rotations: Fresh 1v1 and team maps will cycle into ranked play, ensuring variety and balance changes are in sync.

These additions are not just cosmetic or passive, they fundamentally alter tempo and control in both casual and ranked environments.

For PC and Xbox users, Knights of the Cross & Rose isn’t just more content, it’s a strategic recalibration.

By integrating rare mechanics like POIs, historically faithful civilisations, and objective-driven battles, the DLC sharpens Age of Empires IV’s identity within the RTS space.

For long-time players, it’s a call back to classic AoE structure with modern flair. For newcomers, it’s an accessible yet deep expansion that layers narrative, mechanics, and multiplayer incentives in a cohesive package.

This expansion sets a new standard for what historical strategy game expansions can achieve.