The best-selling expansion of the year! You can buy The Sultans Ascend key — a massive content drop for Age of Empires IV. Journey to the Middle East in a new dramatic campaign or master the unique mechanics of powerful new empires. Command the fan-favorite Japanese with their Samurai and Shinobi, or the majestic Byzantines with their Aqueducts and Greek Fire. Plus, gain access to 4 "Variant Civilizations" that completely reimagine gameplay for classic factions. This is a Global key playable worldwide.
⚠️ WARNING: This is Downloadable Content (DLC). The base game Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition is required on Steam to play.
What is included in The Sultans Ascend?
- 2 New Civilizations:
- Japanese: Samurai, Shinobi (Ninjas), Buddhist Monks. Unique mechanic: Daimyo Manor upgrades and gold collection from farms.
- Byzantines: Aqueducts, Cisterns, Mercenaries. Unique units: Varangian Guard and Cheirosiphon (flamethrower).
- 4 Variant Civilizations:
- Jeanne d'Arc (French variant): RPG-style gameplay where you level up Jeanne as a hero unit leading the army.
- Ayyubids (Abbasid variant): Focus on camels and rapid desert raiding.
- Zhu Xi's Legacy (Chinese variant): Focus on imperial officials, technology, and early dynasties.
- Order of the Dragon (HRE variant): Quality over quantity. All units cost 2x more but are significantly stronger and tankier.
- New Campaign: 8 missions focusing on the struggle of Muslim leaders against the Crusaders.
New Civilizations Comparison
| Feature | Japanese | Byzantines |
| Playstyle | Aggression, Melee, Farming | Defense, Mercenaries, Navy |
| Unique Mechanic | Daimyo Manors: Upgrade your Town Center into a rocket-firing castle. | Aqueduct System: Build networks to irrigate farms and boost production speed. |
| Super Unit | Ozutsu: Heavy infantry with a hand cannon. | Varangian Guard: Elite axemen with a berserk ability. |
Instruction: How to activate DLC on Steam
- Open the Steam client.
- Click "Games" in the top menu -> "Activate a Product on Steam".
- Enter the key you received.
- The DLC will download automatically (restart the game if needed).
FAQ
1. Do I need the original game?
Yes. Without the base version of Age of Empires IV, this key cannot be redeemed.
2. What are "Variant Civilizations"?
These are re-imagined versions of existing civs. For example, "Jeanne d'Arc" is a variant of the French, but instead of standard economy, the gameplay revolves around leveling up Jeanne as a hero, similar to Warcraft 3.
3. Is there a campaign for Japan or Byzantium?
No. The new story campaign "The Sultans Ascend" focuses on the Middle East (The Crusades). Japanese and Byzantines are available only in Multiplayer and Skirmish modes.
4. Can I use these civs in ranked?
Yes, all 6 new factions (2 main + 4 variants) are available for ranked matchmaking.
5. Is it region locked?
No. This is a Global key, it activates without regional restrictions.
6. Can Byzantines hire mercenaries?
Yes, they have a unique "Mercenary House" building that lets them hire units from other civilizations (like English Longbows or Mongol Horsemen) using a special resource called Olive Oil.