Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 arrives on October 29, 2026, and there’s something you should do before installing it: finish any match saved on an older build. The developer says those saves will no longer load, and old observable match replays won’t play in the updated version. That does not mean your save files are being deleted.
The patch also changes Attack Move, team matchmaking, observer tools and civilization balance. Crucible owners get two-player co-op and new progression features, while the Vikings and Scots belong to the separate paid Raiders of the North expansion. Here’s the full picture, including one feature that was mistakenly listed for this update.
Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 save game and replay warning
According to World’s Edge, saved games made on a previous game build won’t load after you install Update 17.0. The same applies to observable matches and their in-game replays. If you have a match paused halfway through, loading the new version won’t let you resume it from that older save.
The warning is about compatibility, not files being wiped from your hard drive or console. It also doesn’t announce a reset to campaign completion, account progress or achievements. Don’t delete your profile or start troubleshooting your whole account simply because an older saved match isn’t recognised.
What to do before Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 installs
If you want to finish a saved skirmish or campaign session, load it and complete it before installing the patch. For a replay you want to revisit, watch it before updating or capture a video recording. A video will still be viewable afterwards; the old in-game replay is what the new build won’t be able to play.
Keeping a backup of an old save can preserve a copy of the file, but it doesn’t make it compatible with Age of Empires IV Update 17.0. World’s Edge hasn’t provided a supported conversion process. Once you’ve updated, begin a fresh match rather than relying on a workaround that claims to restore old-build compatibility.
Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 major changes at a glance
| Update feature | What changes |
|---|---|
| Old saves and replays | Previous-build saves cannot load; observable matches cannot be replayed |
| Attack Move | New option to choose whether units target buildings |
| Matchmaking | More accurate hidden team MMR, with seasonal points unchanged |
| Observer tools | New independent Observer HUD mod category |
| Crucible | Co-op, new Boons, Conqueror, Custom and Talent Tracks for eligible DLC owners |
| Balance | Town Centers build in 165 seconds; Rams have 410 health |
The general patch changes are available without buying Raiders of the North. That includes controls, balance, hidden team MMR adjustments and spectator features. If you own Dynasties of the East, you’ll also receive the core Crucible improvements without needing to buy the new DLC. The Vikings, Scots and four Raiders missions are a separate purchase.
New Attack Move setting and hotkeys
Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 adds Game → Attack Move Targets Buildings, letting you decide whether an Attack Move command can target buildings. Rams, Trebuchets and Cannons still prioritise structures by default. You can assign an Inverted Attack Move modifier in the controls menu to temporarily reverse the behaviour you’ve chosen.
The new hotkeys include selecting all ranged units, visible ranged units, melee cavalry and ranged cavalry. Team colours can also be customised by ally and enemy. Dark Green and Magenta have been removed for readability, and the preview notes a current interface issue: you may need to save settings with Team-Based colours selected before the new colour options appear.
Team matchmaking and spectator HUD changes
Hidden team matchmaking rating, or MMR, will adjust more accurately when you often queue with the same people. Rating gains and losses are also weighted by each teammate’s rating rather than shared evenly. Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 does not change your visible seasonal rank or points as part of that adjustment.
Spectators get a separate Observer HUD mod category for custom broadcast and replay interfaces. These HUDs can be enabled by observers without making players load a Game Mode mod. The update also adds 12 Vikings- and Scots-themed taunts for everyone, even if they don’t own Raiders of the North.
Balance adjustments and Crucible improvements
Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 increases Town Center construction time from 150 to 165 seconds and Ram health from 370 to 410. The preview also contains map spawn changes, civilization-specific balance adjustments and new Crucible Boon and boss tuning. For unit-by-unit numbers, the developer’s official patch preview remains the primary source.
The Crucible gains two-player co-op, Conqueror and Custom modes, Boon Ascension, new mutators and 15-level Talent Tracks for each civilization. Both Crucible expansions unlock the core changes. The four new Raiders missions still require Raiders of the North for manually selected games, and invited co-op teammates need the DLC containing their chosen mission. Our Crucible co-op guide explains the Quick Match exception.
Is single-player pause included in Age of Empires IV Update 17.0?
No. The developer originally included a single-player pause feature in the Update 17.0 preview, then added an explicit correction. Pause, with the ability to look around and issue commands while stopped, is planned for a later patch before the end of 2026. It is not part of the October 29 update.
If you’ve seen an older summary listing single-player pause among the launch features, it’s using the uncorrected preview. The developer has changed that timing. The save and replay compatibility warning has not been withdrawn, so don’t let the pause correction distract from finishing an old saved match before patching.
Does Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 include Vikings and Scots?
No. Vikings, Scots, two new biomes and four exclusive Crucible missions are included in the paid Raiders of the North DLC. Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 delivers the general game changes separately. The expansion releases on October 29, and PlayStation 5 purchasing is scheduled to begin that day rather than during the pre-order period.
For the two new civilizations, see our Raiders of the North guide. If you’re only installing the free patch, you’ll still get the control and balance changes. Just make sure any saved match you care about is finished first.
Related Guides
Official developer source: Age of Empires IV Update 17.0 preview.
