Microsoft: Age of Empires is Safe

by Blake Ellison, Sep 10, 2008 4:15pm PDT

Related Topics – Age of Empires, Age of Empires III, PC

This morning, we reported that Microsoft has emphasized its commitment to PC gaming despite its announcement that it would be closing Age of Empires creator Ensemble Studios.

Shane Kim, Microsoft VP of interactive entertainment, echoed the sentiment and went on to assure worried gamers about the future of the multi-million-selling Age of Empires strategy series. "Microsoft continues to own Age of Empires." Kim explained to Edge. "We're still super excited for the potential for the franchise. The Windows gaming world continues to evolve, and we believe in the future of that property."

Kim also elaborated on the new company that is to be created from the remains of Ensemble. The new studio will be independent and founded by the heads of Ensemble, but Kim promises "we will have an ongoing relationship with that new company" including post-release support for Ensemble's final project, Halo Wars.

Should a new Age of Empires game be on the way, it is unknown what development studio will undertake the effort.

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By: Industry Stooge x Show Full Post

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Microsoft is trying to kill triple A development on PC, so that all dev migrates to their money maker platform, the 360. They make a 10 buck royalty on every 360 copy sold before anyone else gets paid, up front. They get nothing for each PC game sold, do the math. For each dual PC/360 release their thinking is that PC sales take 360 royalties out of their pocket. The Age of Empires series was the most successful RTS series of all time, not a single Age release sold under 3 million units!!! They made half a billion dollars from this franchise alone, why would you kill the most successful RTS of all time if your overall strategy was not to shut down PC development in the long term?

Sep 11, 2008 3:07am PDT

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Microsoft is trying to kill triple A development on PC, so that all dev migrates to their money maker pla... : Industry Stooge
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  By: IHATEDUST x Show Full Post
  
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  That is why they are not killing it. They are diversifying. They are trying to make profit in both arenas. They make money off of every PC gamer on the OS. You write one OS every few years, and design one next-gen console and you get a piece of both markets.
  
  Sep 12, 2008 12:25am PDT
  
  That is why they are not killing it. They are diversifying. They are trying to make profit in both arena... : IHATEDUST

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