Age of Empires IV Anniversary Edition vs Base Game

Jessica Turner

Jul 2, 2026

Planning on getting in to Age of Empires IV in 2026? You may have already seen that it's now Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, leaving you potentially confused about whether the Anniversary Edition is the base game, an upgrade, or something totally new. This article is for you as we'll clarify this and whether or not paying a little more for the digital deluxe version is really worth it.

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Is the Anniversary Edition Different From the Base Game?

No. In celebration of Age of Empires IV’s first anniversary, we released a substantial free update that renamed Age of Empires IV to Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition. It’s not a paid expansion. The free update changes the base game so any player already owning it receives all of the improvements available in the Anniversary Edition and everyone that buys AoE IV in the future gets the Anniversary Edition of the base game directly.

What Was Added in the Anniversary Edition?

All in all, Anniversary Edition added lots of free stuff to the base game for everyone. The biggest features included the Ottomans and Malians for play in the multiplayer modes, along with eight new maps, naval upgrades, new Masteries, extra achievements, new taunts, new cheat codes, a host of tweaks and balances, updates to modding, and more small improvements. Since all of this content has been absorbed into the main game, there's really no "non-Anniversary Edition" you can buy separately.

Anniversary Edition vs Digital Deluxe Edition

Since the Anniversary Edition is now the standard version of the game, the real comparison is between the regular edition and the optional Digital Deluxe Edition.

Feature	Anniversary Edition (Base Game)	Digital Deluxe Edition
Base Game	✅	✅
All Anniversary Content	✅	✅
Ottomans Civilization	✅	✅
Malians Civilization	✅	✅
Eight Additional Maps	✅	✅
Multiplayer	✅	✅
Campaigns	✅	✅
Official Soundtrack	❌	✅
Digital Art Pack	❌	✅
Unit Counters Chart	❌	✅
Exclusive Profile Cosmetics	❌	✅
Exclusive Monument & Coat of Arms	❌	✅

If you buy one over the other, you still get the exact same gameplay experience; it’s just that the Digital Deluxe Edition provides only in-game items that are completely aesthetic and digital collector items.

Does the Deluxe Edition Include More Gameplay?

No. A common myth is the Deluxe Digital Edition offers unlockables such as extra civs and campaigns. The Deluxe Edition unlocks digital bonus content such as the soundtrack, artwork, monument, and profile portrait – the same content found within the Anniversary Edition, which comes with the same features as the base game (campaigns, ranked, multiplayer, etc).

What About The Sultans Ascend and Other DLC?

Your only significant gameplay expansions will need to be purchased separately as DLC. For example, the game’s first significant expansion, “The Sultans Ascend”, brings new civs, new variant civs and one new campaign to the mix. Future DLC packs would go on to extend the game content without tying it to the Anniversary Edition. The Digital Deluxe Upgrade is not equivalent to buying those expansion packs unless it comes as part of a bundle package that contains those explicit items. If you have some extra money burning in your pocket that you want to spend on Civilization IV, getting a gameplay expansion is far better value than upgrading to the Digital Deluxe.

Is the Digital Deluxe Edition Worth Buying?

Almost definitely not, for most of you. Unless you only play competitive games, skirmishes, campaigns, or rank mode, the Anniversary edition has you covered for everything. The Deluxe edition primarily just caters for collectors wanting to snag an OST, official art, or a custom player profile cosmetics. It doesn't add any extra gameplay benefits or in game power.

Who Should Buy the Anniversary Edition?

For nearly everyone, Anniversary Edition is the go-to. It features all free gameplay updates that have been released to date and will serve as the total foundation of Age of Empires IV. You’ll be able to experience the entire game whether you’re into campaigns, multiplayer, the AI, or custom matches just by getting this version. If you are a new player, the Anniversary Edition should be where you start before looking at DLCs.

Who Should Buy the Digital Deluxe Edition?

Who Is the Digital Deluxe Edition For? Digital Deluxe is best purchased by people that love official digital loot to keep for their game collections. The people who like to collect soundtracks, concept art, exclusive player profiles, and cosmetic options should consider going the extra mile. But for anyone wanting just to play Age of Empires IV, the Annviersary Edition has everything.

Which Version Offers Better Value?

Player Type	Recommended Version
First-time players	Anniversary Edition
Multiplayer-focused players	Anniversary Edition
Campaign players	Anniversary Edition
Budget-conscious players	Anniversary Edition
Collectors	Digital Deluxe Edition
Players wanting more gameplay	Anniversary Edition + DLC

Buying the Anniversary Edition at launch and picking up gameplay expansions piecemeal later is much more of a money saver for almost every player in 2026 than the Digital Deluxe Edition.

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Conclusion

The main thing to know now is that Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition isn’t a standalone product anymore; it’s just Age of Empires IV. If you buy it today, you’ll automatically get the free Anniversary Update content (including the Ottomans, Malians, extra maps, and other tweaks) with your game. The standalone Anniversary Edition covers the bases sufficiently for just about every single player to jump into what is arguably the best modern RTS experience. Unless you have a special affinity for exclusive game music and art assets, I can’t really see the justification for the Digital Deluxe package when the real content is found in the upcoming gameplay-focused expansion, The Sultans Ascend.