AoE 3 Considerations

Just got some email from the guys at DailyTelefrag again. (regarding this story) They have a direct quote from Stuart Moulder the head of the Microsoft PC division confirming that Age of Empires 3 is a separate title that is under consideration. Apparently there are NDAs involved and Ensemble wants to keep it hush hush though which explains some of the confusion and conflicting reports.

The head of Microsoft's PC division, Stuart Moulder said that Ensemble will develop another AGE OF EMPIRES game. AGE OF EMPIRES III will be historically based, as opposed to Ensembles AGE OF MYTHOLOGY which includes fantasy elements. The setting for AGE III hasn't been decided yet, although Moulder said the "Age of Discovery" - with it's sailing ships, conquest of new worlds, and plentiful men with rifles - is under consideration.