Age of Mythology: Retold Faces Monetization Backlash Despite Strong Reviews

Age of Mythology: Retold currently boasts an 89% positive rating on Steam from 10,930 reviews. However, Forgotten Empires is facing increasing player dissatisfaction over its paid content choices, which some critics argue undermine what is otherwise a strong RTS revival.

The April 2026 DLC release came during a significant backlash, with players voicing their concerns about features locked behind additional purchases in a game that already costs $14.99 on Steam. This timing turned the launch into a hot topic, as community threads criticizing the monetization model gained visibility right when the new content was released.

To give some background, Age of Mythology: Retold is a complete remake of the 2002 original by Ensemble Studios. Forgotten Empires, known for its work on Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, developed the game, which Xbox Game Studios published. The base game’s price is competitive for the genre. Still, players feel that some quality-of-life improvements or additional content should have been included in the base version instead of being locked behind paywalls.

Right now, current concurrent player counts are at 4,031. This number shows a post-launch plateau rather than an ongoing live-service peak. For a strategy game without a persistent multiplayer setup, that count is manageable. But it also means the studio has limited leeway to maintain player goodwill before the active community shrinks to a core group that’s tougher to monetize.

The crossplay situation adds even more complexity. A crossplay guide released in April 2026 indicates that the feature is still being worked out for PC and console versions. This matters because if Xbox Game Studios implements it well, it could significantly increase the player base.

By The Numbers

Steam Review Score	89% positive
Total Steam Reviews	10,930
Current Steam Price	$14.99
Current Concurrent Players	4,031
Developer	Forgotten Empires

Community sentiment is clearly divided. One Steam reviewer put it simply: “1) Questionable monetization practices. 2) Unquestionable classic RTS gameplay goodness. 3) Beloved franchise. Now that we got that out of the way, ETA on Age of Mythology 2?” Another reviewer, who clearly loves the genre, described it as “a splendid fusion of fable and RTS,” noting it’s an accessible entry point for newcomers to the classic RTS style.

What To Watch

• Whether Forgotten Empires decides to adjust any April DLC pricing in light of the backlash or sticks to its guns — either choice will set a precedent for future content releases.
• The progress of crossplay implementation between PC and Xbox platforms, which could significantly increase player numbers and lessen monetization pressure by widening the audience.
• Long-term player retention through mid-2026: if the 4,031 concurrent players continue to decline, Xbox Game Studios will have a tougher decision ahead regarding the franchise’s next investment cycle.