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Age of Empires IV replay launcher
Watch old Age of Empires IV replays the current patch can't open
Age of Empires IV replays only work with the exact game build they were recorded on. AoE4 Replay Launcher identifies that build, reconstructs it from official Steam depot files, and launches the game on the replay's original date so the historical version runs correctly.
Platform
Windows (Steam copy required)
License
Free & open-source (MIT)
Latest release
v1.1.4
What it is
Replays from old patches play again, no manual downgrade required.
After a patch, Age of Empires IV replays (.rec) recorded on earlier builds usually fail to open. This launcher rebuilds the precise historical version each replay needs from official Steam depot files, then runs the game through it.
Replays recorded on your currently installed patch open immediately — no download or Steam sign-in required. Everything is bundled in the release: you do not need Python or any manual setup, and external tools are fetched from their official sources only when first needed.
Features
Find, reconstruct, and play any available replay from one desktop panel.
Exact build reconstruction
Each replay is matched to the exact historical game build it was recorded on, identified by the recorded executable version so the resolution is locale-independent.
Deduplicated storage
Historical build data is stored in a deduplicated restic repository, so consecutive builds share most of their underlying data instead of keeping a full copy each.
Cache & save builds
Composed builds are cached while the launcher is open, and you can save selected builds to keep them across sessions for instant, offline playback.
Self-updating build map
A scheduled job records newly released Steam manifests and the launcher refreshes its replay-to-build map at startup, so new patches are supported without a new app release.
Private Steam sign-in
Sign-in is requested only when historical files must be downloaded. The recommended Steam Mobile QR flow needs no password in the launcher, and your Steam password is never stored.
How it works
From a replay file to a launchable historical build.
The launcher reads the build recorded in the replay, resolves the matching Steam depot manifest, downloads only the files that differ from your live installation, and stores that delta in restic. At launch it composes the historical build by hardlinking unchanged files from your normal install and combining them with the restored delta — then starts the game on the replay's original date.
The reconstruction pipeline
replay.rec
| read the recorded game build
v
build map ---------> resolve the Steam depot manifest
|
v
Steam depots ------> download only the required historical delta
|
v
restic repository -> restore the build's delta
|
v
compose = current Steam install (hardlinked seed)
+ restored historical delta (hardlinked)
|
v
launch on the replay's original dateStorage & deduplication
A year of historical builds, without a full copy for every patch.
Age of Empires IV asset archives (.sga) make up most of the build cache and are already compressed, so ordinary compression adds little. The real reduction comes from content-defined deduplication: consecutive versions of the same archives share most of their underlying data.
Raw delta data
Approximately 140 GB across roughly one year of historical builds.
Stored after dedup
Approximately 55 GB on disk in the restic repository.
Disk space saved
About 61% — and unchanged files are hardlinked from your live install at launch.
Before you run it
The release is unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may warn on first launch.
This is an independently distributed open-source application without a commercial code-signing certificate. On first run, Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC." Select More info, then Run anyway. This is expected and the source is fully available for review.
AoE4 Replay Launcher does not distribute Age of Empires IV game files. Historical files are downloaded directly from Steam, for users who own the game, and remain subject to the applicable Steam and game terms.
Get started
Download, extract, and double-click — no Python or setup needed.
01
Download the latest release zip from the Releases page.
02
Extract the entire folder to a writable location such as your Desktop. Keep the exe and its _internal folder together; don't run from inside the archive or under Program Files.
03
Double-click AoE4-Replay-Launcher.exe. Performance depends mainly on your internet connection (downloads) and your SSD/disk (build composition).
FAQ
Common questions about playing old Age of Empires IV replays.
Do I need Python or any setup?
No. The release is a self-contained Windows build — download, extract, and run. External tools (restic, DepotDownloader, RunAsDate) download automatically from their official sources on first use.
Do I need to own the game?
Yes. A legitimately owned Steam copy of Age of Empires IV is required; Steam will only provide historical depot files to an account that owns the game.
Does it modify my game install?
No. Historical builds are composed in a separate working area by hardlinking unchanged files from your live install and adding the restored delta. Your normal installation is left intact.
Why does it ask me to sign in to Steam?
Only when files from a historical build must be downloaded. The recommended Steam Mobile QR flow approves the sign-in in the Steam app without entering a password into the launcher, and the password is never stored.
Search terms that may describe this tool include Age of Empires IV old replay, AoE4 replay not working after patch, play old AoE4 replays, watch outdated replay, and reconstruct historical AoE4 build.