If you have installed the new AOE II Definitive Edition: The Last Chieftains and instantly got all the Achievements and now also have major issues with audio. This guide will explain how to work around both major bugs introduced with The Last Chieftains DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Just be aware that you might not be happy with some of the outcomes in this one.

Fixing Automatic Achievement Unlocks in AOE II: The Last Chieftains

All achievements tied to the new civilizations unlock as soon as the game is launched after installing the DLC. No gameplay is required. Once this happens, the unlocks are permanently synced to Steam. There is no supported way to reset achievements.

The only way to prevent this is to wait to buy the game until they have patched the issue. If you get the game and launch it before the issue has been patched you will never be able to earn the achievements properly.

Fixing the Always-On Microphone in AOE II DE: The Last Chieftains

After the DLC update, the game accesses the system microphone at all times, even if voice chat and push-to-talk are disabled. On Windows, this can force Bluetooth headsets into communication mode, cutting off normal game audio. Which means you will have zero audio support for your entire system in some situations.

• No sound when using Bluetooth headphones
• Microphone indicator always active
• Audio switches to low-quality headset mode

This is the most reliable fix:

• Open Windows Settings
• Go to Privacy and Security
• Select Microphone
• Disable “Allow desktop apps to access your microphone”

Alternatively, disable microphone access only for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition if listed.

Stop Windows From Switching Audio Modes

• Right-click the speaker icon and open Sound settings
• Go to More sound settings
• In the Playback tab, set your headphones as the Default Device
• Make sure they are not set as the Default Communication Device
• Open the Communications tab and select “Do nothing”

This prevents Windows from switching audio profiles when a microphone is detected.

Disable Voice Features In-Game

• Launch the game
• Open Options, then Audio
• Disable Voice Chat and Push-to-Talk
• Restart the game

Note that this may not fully stop microphone initialization, but it can reduce conflicts.

Wait for the First Patch

Since the game only just released both these issues should be fixed in the first patch which will probably be in a couple of days. Issues this big usually get fixed pretty fast.