Age of Empires 4 Update 8.1.185 Patch Notes
by Ayisha
Updated Aug 23, 2023
Age of Empires 4 Update
Age of Empires 4 players on PC (Steam) can now access the latest update, version 8.1.185. According to the AOE4 patch notes, this update primarily focuses on enhancing the game's AI. It addresses issues related to building damage calculations, improves the logic behind resource gathering, and refines how armies form during attacks.
Additionally, players will notice some user interface improvements, including centered relic icons and better resource display in Ovoo. Despite the absence of new content, this update aims to enhance the overall gaming experience by addressing existing issues and making subtle improvements.
In the past, a major update introduced new maps, activated spectator chat, and resolved numerous bugs. However, some players continued to face challenges while playing Age of Empires 4. Today's patch, 8.1.185, is a welcome addition, as it strives to address some of these lingering issues. Although the game tends to prioritize problem-solving over content expansion, players can still appreciate these updates, which work behind the scenes to create a smoother and more enjoyable gaming environment.
Age of Empires 4 Update 8.1.185 Patch Notes
AI Updates
Fixed an issue that caused the AI to miscalculate the damage of buildings with garrisoned units. AI should no longer treat outposts as harmless if there are units inside.
Mongol AI will place blacksmith and some military production buildings near Ovoo when relocating to take advantage of improved technologies.
AI’s logic for assigning villagers to gather from resources has been improved.
AI army will now try to move in formation when traveling to attack or defend a target. Siege engines and slower units will now move together with faster units giving AI a better chance to utilize the whole army.
Issue with AI archers being idle after fleeing has been fixed.
AI will now build the first mining camp close to its Town Center early in the game.
AI now uses more villagers to construct landmarks and wonders.
AI will fall back from battles it is losing more reliably.
AI player’s monks will now correctly travel with, heal, and buff their allies.
AI is now more restricted for executing market trades. It won’t execute trade for resources that it needs when it’s gathering same resource decently. It will only go for market trades that make sense.
Accelerated and generally improved AI’s first Town Center placement logic in Nomad mode.
Fixed AI sometimes repeatedly choosing the same bad spot to build their first Town Center in Nomad mode, destroying it and trying again or sometimes completely failing to choose a good construction spot.
AI Scout Changes
AI players will now actively scout for nearby enemy units after they have been harassed in their territory.
AI scouts now collect sheep in Revealed games.
AI’s scouts drop sheep off at the base more often.
Scout pathfinding when grabbing sheep has been improved around shores.
AI will use their scouts to observe enemy bases more often.
AI’s scouts no longer deliver sheep to allies on revealed maps.
AI players’ scouts will no longer attempt to steal sheep from near allied bases.
Campaign
Tech Trees option has been removed from the pause menu.
Developer’s Note: Removing this view from campaigns is our design solution to confusion experienced by newer players, as the technology and units in the campaigns deviate significantly from the Tech Trees used in Skirmish and Multiplayer matches.
Fixed a bug in campaign missions where a villager would not automatically build a structure if placed where the villager is standing.
Fixed a problem that could cause the enemy AI to stop attacking during the Lumen Shan mission.
Masteries
The Clever Commerce French Mastery description has been updated for clarity.
Fixed a bug where the “Quick Study” achievement was not awarded if the Ottoman or Malian masteries were completed.
UX/UI & Menus (All Platforms)
Fixed an issue to ensure Mod tooltips will appear wide enough to contain the full mod title without breaking the characters into multiple lines.
Fixed an issue to ensure that if Voice Chat has been disabled, it can be re-enabled during a match.
The relic icon is now centered, when selecting a building with a relic inside.
The resource in the deposit and the extraction rate stats are now on the same line when selecting the Ovoo. The player’s name is not cut off anymore.
Maps
General Map Changes
Fixed an issue to ensure all Quick Match 2v2 maps use the small version of their maps.
We have altered the distribution and number of relics that generate on certain sizes of the following maps: Archipelago, Confluence, Mongolian Heights, Nagari, and Warring Islands.
We’ve tweaked match starts across all maps by adding two Sheep at your Town Center and removing two nearby sheep from spawning a short distance away. This makes for more fair starts and less frantic searching for food in the first seconds of the game.
Tightened up the generation of impasse along the edges of forests. Trees along the edges of forests should be more easily accessible to villagers.
Map-Specific Changes
MegaRandom
Fixed a rare crash that could occur on MegaRandom when playing 4v4 on gigantic size.
Fixed a rare crash that could occur on MegaRandom while playing in Skirmish.
Danube River
Fixed Danube River sometimes not generating the appropriate number of Sacred Sites on certain map sizes.
Four Lakes
Fixed an issue where opposing players could spawn too close to each other.
Fixed an issue where a player’s base could spawn much further from the lake than another player.
Resources should no longer spawn “cluttered” next to each other around the center of the map when using larger map sizes.
Balance & Bugfixes
Naval Updates (All Civilizations)
Fixed an issue where Man the Sails ability of Springald ships was missing help text.
General Changes & Bugfixes
Security fixes implemented to address known exploits.
Civilization-Specific Changes
Abbasid Dynasty
Camel Archer frame delay when firing is reduced to match other ranged units.
Known Issues & Solutions
Our team has redoubled our efforts to keep players informed about ongoing issues and bugs. To that extent we have recently redesigned our Known Issues & Solutions page to better communicate issues which have a high impact on players and are a high priority for us to resolve.
The Known Issues & Solutions page will update in relative cadence with each Update and Patch for Age of Empires IV. Issue statuses on the page alert if and when we are looking for further examples of a particular bug or issue.
Finally, we have also included full steps on how to report a bug, issue, or crash, and additional work to streamline and improve the process of reporting crashes to Customer Support are in the pipeline for the future.
Queue Dodging
Our last patch contained a series of changes meant to curb the prevalence of queue dodging in Ranked matches. We have since identified additional methods by which some players continue to dodge without severe-enough penalties, Work to close these loopholes is ongoing and will be implemented in the future.
Investigation
Community-Reported Issues:
Your reports continue being crucial to our prioritization and implementation of fixes and features in the game. Keep them coming!
Age of Empires Overview
Age of Empires stands as a collection of historical real-time strategy video games that initially came into being through the efforts of Ensemble Studios and were published by Xbox Game Studios. It all began with the release of the inaugural game, simply titled "Age of Empires," in 1997. Up until October 28, 2021, a total of nine games had been launched under this franchise.
Age of Empires, in its early iterations, delved into historical events across Europe, Africa, and Asia, spanning the epochs from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. The expansion pack of the first game extended this exploration to encompass the rise and expansion of the Roman Empire.
The sequel, "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings," transported players to the Middle Ages, while its expansion notably covered aspects of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The subsequent trio of games in "Age of Empires III" ventured into the early modern period, marked by Europe's colonization of the Americas and the waning fortunes of several Asian nations.
On a different note, "Age of Empires Online" offered a unique free-to-play online gaming experience, employing Games for Windows Live. Additionally, the spin-off game "Age of Mythology" retained the historical backdrop of the original Age of Empires but introduced mythological elements from Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology. The most recent addition to the series, "Age of Empires IV," was unveiled on October 28, 2021.
The Age of Empires series has garnered substantial commercial success, with more than 25 million copies sold. Critics have attributed some of its triumph to the historical themes it explores and its commitment to fair gameplay, particularly in comparison to many of its competitors, as the AI opponents in Age of Empires games have fewer inherent advantages.
What Are the Different Types of Games in Age of Empires?
The Age of Empires series boasts a rich timeline of game releases spanning several decades. Commencing with the inaugural "Age of Empires" in 1997, the series has continually evolved. The first installment brought players through the Stone Age to the Classical period in Europe and Asia.
Its expansion, "The Rise of Rome," added further depth by exploring the rise of the Roman Empire. The sequel, "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings," transported gamers to the Middle Ages, accompanied by its expansion, "The Conquerors," which delved into the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, among other scenarios.
Subsequently, "Age of Empires III" and its expansions took players to the era of European colonization in the Americas, while "Age of Empires Online" shifted focus to Greek and Egyptian civilizations. The spin-off, "Age of Mythology," and its expansion, "The Titans," blended history with mythology from Greek, Egyptian, and Norse traditions.
Within the main series, "Age of Empires" made its debut in 1997, garnering recognition for its unique blend of history and real-time strategy. Despite initial software bugs, it was well-received, earning accolades like the "Computer Strategy Game of the Year" in 1998.
"Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings," released in 1999, continued the series, with an expansion, "The Conquerors," arriving in 2000. This installment was a critical success, scoring highly with Game Rankings and Metacritic. In 2013, "Age of Empires II: HD Edition" brought the classic back to life with updated graphics.
Further expansions, such as "The Forgotten" and "The African Kingdoms," followed, culminating in the "Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition" release in 2019, featuring 4K graphics and additional content. "Age of Empires III," unveiled in 2005, introduced fresh elements like home cities and covered the European colonization period in the Americas. Its expansions, "The WarChiefs" and "The Asian Dynasties," extended the gameplay. A remastered "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" was released in 2020, keeping the series alive.
Finally, "Age of Empires IV," developed by Relic Entertainment, marked the latest installment and was officially launched on October 28, 2021. Set in the Middle Ages, it reintroduced several features from "Age of Empires II" that had been modified or removed in "Age of Empires III." This installment featured eight civilizations upon release and continued the series' legacy of combining history and strategy in a compelling gaming experience.
Age of Empires Trailer
Age of Empires 4 Update 8.1.185 Patch Notes - FAQs
The latest update is version 8.1.185.
The update primarily enhances the game's AI, addressing building damage calculations, resource gathering logic, and army formation during attacks.
The update includes centered relic icons and improved resource display in Ovoo.
No, this update focuses on fixing issues and making subtle improvements rather than adding new content.
The previous major update included new maps, activated spectator chat, and numerous bug fixes.