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Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition was free to play for all Xbox members from February 1 through February 4, 2024. That promotion has ended; it is not evidence of a current October 2026 offer.
Is Age of Empires IV free on Xbox this weekend?
No current offer is established by the available official listings. Xbox Wire’s October 1, 2026 Free Play Days lineup named FARCRY 6, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Skull and Bones, and The Crew Motorfest—not Age of Empires IV. The checked listing covers October 1–4, 2026; it does not establish whether Xbox announced a different lineup after that post. See Xbox Wire’s October 1, 2026 Free Play Days announcement.
When was the all-members offer?
Xbox Wire’s promotion ran from Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) through Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PST. It was a past, limited-time event, not a recurring entitlement. Read Xbox Wire’s February 1, 2024 announcement.
Did players need Game Pass?
No. For Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition during that event, Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate were not required. Xbox Wire listed separate Free Play Days games with a Core or Ultimate requirement, but that restriction did not apply to this game.
#1 Best Overall
- The award-winning and best-selling strategy franchise continues to delight fans worldwide with Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, putting you at the center of even more epic historical battles that shaped the world.
- Featuring 2 brand new civilizations: the Ottomans and Malians for a total of 10 diverse civilizations with unique playstyles and abilities.
- Play how you want with user-generated content, tools, and mods for custom games (Beta).
- 8 new maps; new masteries, challenges, taunts, and cheats; and additional in-game updates and languages included.
- Cooperate or spectate with up to 7 of your friends in PVP and PVE multiplayer modes, and now with ranked seasons!
How players accessed the promotion
During the event, Xbox Wire directed players to the game’s Xbox.com page to install through the Microsoft Store. Players could also find the Free Play Days collection in the Xbox Store on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The announcement described the Anniversary Edition as available on Xbox consoles, with controller inputs, a console-specific interface, and a tutorial for new players.
What happened after the free-play period?
Xbox Wire said players could buy the game at a limited-time discount after the event and keep Gamerscore and achievements earned while playing. The event page showed a historical price of $31.99, reduced from $39.99. That was the 2024 event-era listing, not a current price; Xbox said discounts and availability varied by title and region.
Rank #2
- Start out playing as the British and begin with a solid economy, or lead the French into an easy alliance with Native Americans - 8 total civilizations to choose from
- Work with Native Americans to your tactical advantage, for the first time ever
- Develop your own Home City, and customize it make it wealthier and more powerful as you take over Europe
- Explore the New World and create colonies while seeking out new resources and making alliances with the Native Americans
- Recover buried treasure from the Caribbean, hunt bison on the Great Plains, compete for trade routes and fortify the coast of New England
How to check for a new offer
For a current promotion, check the Xbox Store’s Free Play Days collection or Xbox Wire’s latest Free Play Days announcement. Confirm the dates and any Game Pass eligibility on the specific game listing: event terms can differ between titles, and an old promotion does not establish that a game is free now.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- VIE FOR SUPEMACY: Europe in the Age of Absolutism: The 7 Empires Great Britain, Russia, France, Spain, Prussia, Habsburg and the Ottomans vie for supremacy on the old continent.
- THE GAME IS PLAYED OVER 8 DECADES with each Empires taking a turn and section actions. Build your legacy through the decades as you develop & influence the different empires.
- BUILD & DEPLOY: The Empire builds a new city or upgrades an existing one. Once cities are built or upgraded, players can deploy units to defend their territories or expand their empire.
- MOVE & FIGHT: Movement and combat are essential components in establishing control over the game world. Put pressure on your competitors by moving your ships and land units to establish your won flag in occupied regions.
- GAME VARIANTS: Change up your game! The standard game can span8 decades but you can expand to 9 or 10 decades, with each decade bringing new opportunities and challenges.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.




