Age of Empires 2 Naval Overhaul
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition received a massive update introducing an entirely new line of warships and significant changes to naval mechanics. The update is being hailed as a major shakeup for both competitive and casual players, breathing new life into one of the most enduring RTS games.
- The update, officially numbered 169123, introduced the Hulk, War Hulk, and Carrack as a new line of warships designed to be fast, durable, and effective against Fire Ships at close range. - A new siege vessel, the Catapult Galleon, was added for civilizations that lack access to the Cannon Galleon, such as the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas. - The overhaul simplified ship combat by reclassifying damage to either pierce or melee and revamping statistics to be less reliant on complex bonus calculations. - Naval economy was expanded with the addition of whales as a new aquatic resource that fishing ships can gather gold from. - Several new naval-focused technologies were added to the University, including Carvel Hull and Clinker Construction for increased ship speed, and Siphons and Incendiaries to boost Fire Ship capabilities. - The update was released on February 17, 2026, alongside "The Last Chieftains" DLC, which introduced three new South American civilizations: the Mapuche, Muisca, and Tupi. - Many of the naval changes were first showcased in the "Thalassocracy 2" tournament in December 2025, allowing for player feedback before the official release. - The update also included broader changes such as cross-platform voice chat, an overhaul of the Inca civilization, and new civilization-specific waypoint flags.
