It is included in the Xbox Game Pass library, allowing you to play the full, updated version for a low monthly subscription fee.
A huge part of the Age of Empires experience is the ranked ladder and lobby system. Pirated versions are generally blocked from official servers , limiting you to offline play against AI. It is included in the Xbox Game Pass
If price is the concern, there are safer, legal ways to jump into the fray: allowing you to play the full