All PC players can jump into the Age of Empires IV Technical Stress Test from September 17 through September 20. Developer Relic Entertainment hosted a closed beta for the real-time strategy title in August, offering an invite-only experience that demanded participants meet certain requirements. However, the forthcoming stress test won't be nearly as exclusive, the developers said.

Formally announced in 2017, Age of Empires IV spent a long period of time out of the spotlight before resurfacing during Microsoft's X019 event late in 2019. Relic's latest Age of Empires entry received a particularly special blowout during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021, wherein fans were finally treated to a firm due date - October 28. Since Age of Empires IV's release is now fast approaching, Relic aims to truly put the scale of its servers and systems to the test. Thus, all are invited to take part in a weekend-long stress test starting this Friday.

Related: How Age of Empires 4 Can Modernize the Series’ Formula

So long as the minimum spec requirements are met, all PC players will have access to the Age of Empires IV Technical Stress Test, which lasts from Friday, September 17 at 10:00 AM PT to Monday, September 20 at 10:00 AM PT. An FAQ post on the official Age of Empires website notes that while the Stress Test constitutes a multiplayer-focused experience, participants will get to try the game's tutorial segment - Mission Zero - and play against AI through the Multiplayer Custom Lobby. Notably, the upcoming testing phase boasts five maps and four different civilizations in total, the latter of which includes the Abbasid Dynasty, the Chinese, the English, and the Holy Roman Empire.

Age of Empires 4 Naval Screenshot

Come Friday, interested parties will be able to join the Technical Stress Test via PC's Xbox Insider Hub app or the "Playtest" section on Age of Empires IV's Steam product page. Since the new testing phase is open to all, players need not worry about Relic enforcing a non-disclosure agreement.

Like its predecessors, Age of Empires IV will allow players to position themselves in the center of history's most epic battles. One campaign follows Joan of Arc in her battles against the English empire, for instance; yet another revolves around Genghis Khan's command of Mongol troops.

Next: What Age of Empires 4 NEEDS To Be Better Than AoE 3

Age of Empires IV comes to PC and Xbox Game Pass for PC this fall on October 28.

Source: Age of Empires