Microsoft announced the formation of an Age of Empires studio, headed by Shannon Loftis

Burrman · Jun 16, 2019

Roman Bellic said:
Xbox Game Studios:
1 | 343 Industries | USA | founded in 2007 | Halo franchise, Slipspace engine | a few teams at least: Infinite team, MCC team, strategy games team (I don't know if it still existing, because Dan Ayoub (head of) leaved the studio in 2017), Showtime's tv series team, franchise team (like Fireteam Raven arcade or Discovery Outpost event).
2 | Age of Empires studio (official name hasn't cleared legal yet) | USA | founded in 2019.
3 | The Coalition | Canada | founded in 2010 as Zipline Studios (Relic Rescue), rebranded in 2011 as Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver (Microsoft Flight), rebranding in 2012 as Black Tusk Studios to build already cancelled new huge franchise, Halo and Gears scale (Project Shangheist?), rebranded in 2015 to the current name | Gears franchise.
4 | Compulsion Games | Canada | founded in 2009, acquired in 2018 | Contrast, We Happy Few.
5 | Double Fine Productions | USA | founded in 2000, acquired in 2019 | for example Psychonauts, Brütal Legend, Broken Age, Grim Fandango Remastered, Rad.
6 | The Initiative | USA | founded in 2018.
7 | inXile | USA | founded in 2002, acquired in 2018 | Torment: Tides of Numenera, The Bard's Tale IV, Wasteland 3, unannounced project | two teams: #1 main (Newport Beach, CA), #2 additional (New Orleans, LA).
8 | Mojang (Minecraft) | Sweden | founded in 2009, acquired in 2014 | Minecraft, Minecraft Earth, Minecraft Dungeons | at least two teams: #1 in Stockholm, Sweden and #2 in Redmond, USA.
9 | Ninja Theory | United Kingdom | founded in 2000 as Just Add Monster, rebranded in 2004 as Ninja Theory, acquired in 2018 | Kung Fu Chaos, Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, DmC: Devil May Cry, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Bleeding Edge | a few teams they've started work on a number of new games at the studio and in the near future they'll be sharing details on all of these projects.
10 | Obsidian | USA | founded in 2003, acquired in 2018 | STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II – The Sith Lords™, Fallout: New Vegas, South Park™: The Stick of Truth™, Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny, The Outer Worlds; also worked with Microsoft on Stormlands as a launch title for Xbox One (canceled in 2012) | at least 4 teams: #1 the biggest finishing The Outer Worlds, #2 smaller finishing Pillars of Eternity II, #3 and #4 new small teams that are starting things up.
11 | Playground Games | United Kingdom | founded in 2010, acquired in 2018 | Forza Horizon, unannounced open world action RPG to be announced "later" | two teams in Leamington Spa: #1 in Rossmore House (Horizon team), #2 in St. Albans House (RPG team).
12 | Rare | United Kingdom | founded in 1985 (!), rebranded in 1994 as Rareware, acquired in 2002, backed in 2003 to Rare | Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, Conker: Live & Reloaded, Kameo: Elements of Power, Viva Piñata, Kinect Sports, Sea of Thieves, overseeing Battletoads (developed by Dlala Studios) | at least 3 teams: #1 for Sea of Thieves, #2 for unannounced new project, #3 for overseeing old IPs (like Killer Instinct, Battletoads).
13 | Turn 10 Studios | USA | founded in 2001 | Forza Motorsport, helping with Forza Horizon, ForzaTech engine.
14 | Undead Labs | USA | founded in 2009, acquired in 2018 | State of Decay.
+ | Global Publishing division | USA | founded in… I don't know | CrossfireX (Smilegate), Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios), Crackdown 3 (Sumo Digital / Red Kite Games / Elbow Rocket (aka Ruffian Games) / Certain Affinity), State of Decay 2 (released before being acquired), Phantom Dust (Code Mystics), Super Lucky's Tale (Playful Studios), ReCore (Comcept, Armature Studio), Quantum Break (Remedy Entertainment), Screamride (Frontier Developments), Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios), Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games), Ryse: Son of Rome (Crytek), Dead Rising 3 (Capcom).

Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios:
1 | Bend Studio | United States | founded in 1993, acquired in 2000 | Syphon Filter, UNCHARTED™: Golden Abyss, DAYS GONE |
2 | San Mateo Studio | United States | founded in 1998 | overseeing the development of first party games by external developers, like Marvel's Spider-Man or Farpoint.
3 | Guerilla Games | the Netherlands | founded in 2000, acquired in 2005 | Killzone series, Horizon Zero Dawn™, Decima engine.
4 | Japan Studio | Japan | founded in 1993 | ICO™ (w/ Team Ico), Shadow of the Colossus™ (w/ Bluepoint Games), Bloodborne™ (w/ FromSoftware), Everybody's Golf™ (w/ Clap Hanz), Gravity Rush™, KNACK™, LocoRoco™, Ape Escape™ | two additional divisions: Project Siren (Gravity Rush™), ASOBI! Team (ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission).
5 | London Studio | United Kingdom | founded in 1993 | now focused on VR games: Blood & Truth, previously SingStar or EyeToy franchises.
6 | Media Molecule | United Kingdom | founded in 2006, acquired in 2010 | LittleBigPlanet series, Tearaway™, Dreams.
7 | Naughty Dog | United States | founded in 1984 as JAM Software, rebranding in 1989 as Naughty Dog, acquired in 2001 | Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, UNCHARTED™, The Last of Us.
8 | Manchester Studio | United Kingdom | founded in 2015 | focused on VR games.
9 | PixelOpus | United States | founded in 2014 | Entwined, Concrete Genie.
10 | Polyphony Digital | Japan | founded in 1992 | Motor Toon Grand Prix, Gran Turismo | 5 teams around the world: Tokyo and Fukuoka (Japan), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Los Angeles, CA (United States).
11 | San Diego Studio | United States | founded in 2001 | focused mainly on MLB The Show series, shipped also eg. StarBlood Arena™ (w/ WhiteMoon Dreams), Drawn to Death (w/ The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency), Kill Strain.
12 | Santa Monica Studio | United States | founded in 1999 | focused mainly on God of War series, shipped also eg. Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (w/ The Chinese Room), The Order: 1886™ (w/ Ready at Dawn), PlayStation® All-Stars Battle Royale (w/ SuperBot Entertainment), The Unfinished Swan (w/ Giant Sparrow).
13 | Sucker Punch Productions | United States | founded in 1997, acquired in 2011 | Sly Cooper series, inFAMOUS series, Ghost of Tsushima.
+ | Sony XDev (External Development) Studio Europe | founded in… I don't know | collaborates with independent development studios across Europe (similar to XGS Publishing); Detroit: Become Human, BEYOND: Two Souls, Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream), The Inpatient, Hidden Agenda, Until Dawn (Supermassive Games), WiLD (Wild Sheep Studio), Matterfall, Alienation, RESOGUN (Housemarque), LittleBigPlanet™ 3 (Sumo Digital).

Thx for the detailed response.

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Many members of the new AOE studio are Ex-ensemble studios.

Gay Bowser · Jun 16, 2019

SRTtoZ said:
I hate how they make IP specific studios.

Honestly, I agree. Like, at least give people who work at those studios the hope of maybe someday working with a different IP, haha.

It's...questionable whether Gears is worth devoting a whole studio to in 2019. I'm not convinced that the games since the Epic buyout are performing any better than a new IP with a similar budget would.

Legio XIV Gemina · Jun 16, 2019

Jimmy1984 said:
Many members of the new AOE studio are Ex-ensemble studios.

Then I hope (and they should) rebrand it as Ensemble agian !

Tagyhag · Jun 16, 2019

Futaleufu said:
Its hard to be excited for Aoe2 Definitive when Aoe2 HD has three extra expansions.

That's what I was worried about too but DE has all the expansions and so much more.

Taken from Reddit:

4K graphics, zoom, destruction animations, yada yada

intelligent unit selection (optional)

still using AoE2 game engine (Genie engine)

new population limit: 500

re-recorded orchestral soundtrack, including new pieces

new path-finding

new, way stronger AI that doesn't cheat (even on highest difficulty)

spectators don't take up a player spot, unlimited number of spectators

seperate spectator lobbies

Mixer integration

does not use UWP (Universal Windows Platform), but "standard" Win32

release on Steam and Windows Store, crossplay between both platforms

using technology from AoE4, for example "Relic Link" (anti-cheat-tool, allows player profiles, similar to Battle.net)

the new Age of Empires studio supports the other game studios

HD mods are compatible with Definitive Edition, but need a tool for conversion that's provided by Forgotten Empires

AgeofEmpires.com becomes platform for mods, so that both Steam and MS store users can get them

reworked scenario editor

four new civs (Tartars, Bulgarians, Kumans, Lithuanians)

three new campaigns, one of them is called "The Last Khans"

portraits of talking campaign characters are shown while they speak

original campaigns have been reworked, AoK campaigns now feature HD civs where appropriate (e.g. Italians)

there's a so-called "Community Council" for each of the AoE titles, which cooperates with the developers

there will be updates after release, they didn't exclude another addon

15 Euros for HD owners, 20 Euros for everyone else

re-designed interface

control groups are displayed, building queues are displayed

attack-move

technologies can be queued

buildings that are researching something show a visual effect (that's not yet final)

when deleting important buildings (e.g. castles) there's a dialog that asks you to confirm (optional)

auto-farm-reseeding (optional)

newly trained units are in aggressive stance instead of defensive stance (optional)

when settings waypoints units immediately start to move after setting the first waypoint (optional)

waypoints can contain movement, attack and build commands (optional)

so-called "challenges" are included to teach the player common tactics and other stuff (luring boars, build orders, etc.)

in those challenges you get a score and can compare yourself with friends or players from around the world

There also seem to be more than 1 civ neutral units added per some screenshots and interviews.

This honestly does seem to be the definitive edition, especially since a lot of new things are optional for the purists.

If they also optimize 8 player matches to not lag like crazy, it'll be the cherry on the top.

Vj27 · Jun 16, 2019

Just bring it to fucking consoles or I couldn't care less. I don't know why the #1 RTS game of all time is in MS's pocket but instead they give us halo wars... whoever green lights this shit needs to get fi- oh wait. Seriously though, this is the only RTS game ive ever played hardcore. Your making gears xcom exclusive to PC AND the best RTS franchise of all time??? While we get halo wars...

Edit: if this is coming to consoles though please correct me. I'd love to be wrong in this case.

Tagyhag · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
Just bring it to fucking consoles or I couldn't care less. I don't know why the #1 RTS game of all time is in MS's pocket but instead they give us halo wars... whoever green lights this shit needs to get fi- oh wait. Seriously though, this is the only RTS game ive ever played hardcore. Your making gears xcom exclusive to PC AND the best RTS franchise of all time??? While we get halo wars...

Edit: if this is coming to consoles though please correct me. I'd love to be wrong in this case.

Is it really worth it to port though? How many keyboard/mice users are there on X1?

Spark · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
Just bring it to fucking consoles or I couldn't care less. I don't know why the #1 RTS game of all time is in MS's pocket but instead they give us halo wars... whoever green lights this shit needs to get fi- oh wait. Seriously though, this is the only RTS game ive ever played hardcore. Your making gears xcom exclusive to PC AND the best RTS franchise of all time??? While we get halo wars...

Edit: if this is coming to consoles though please correct me. I'd love to be wrong in this case.

It's not confirmed, but if it did it'll have to be pretty much KB/M exclusive. And I don't think Microsoft wants to release a console game that has no/poor gamepad support at this stage. The amount of console users that have a KB/M setup on their console would be slim to none.

nekkid · Jun 16, 2019

Spark said:
It's not confirmed, but if it did it'll have to be pretty much KB/M exclusive. And I don't think Microsoft wants to release a console game that has no/poor gamepad support. The amount of console users that have a KB/M setup on their console would be slim to none.

How would this be any different than any other peripheral-dependent games that have been on console for years?

flyingman · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
Just bring it to fucking consoles or I couldn't care less. I don't know why the #1 RTS game of all time is in MS's pocket but instead they give us halo wars... whoever green lights this shit needs to get fi- oh wait. Seriously though, this is the only RTS game ive ever played hardcore. Your making gears xcom exclusive to PC AND the best RTS franchise of all time??? While we get halo wars...

Edit: if this is coming to consoles though please correct me. I'd love to be wrong in this case.

Why you throwing shades at Halo Wars though. Microsoft can have a lot of RTS together man no need to throw bus. Age of Myth,Age of Empires,Halo Wars , Gears RTS maybe even(Tactics) just make more

Spark · Jun 16, 2019

nekkid said:
How would this be any different than any other peripheral-dependent games that have been on console for years?

Such as fighting sticks, racing wheels etc? Those games already function fine with gamepads, peripherals just make them better to play. A PC focused RTS game, with small text and units, and precise micro-oriented controls would be near unplayable with a gamepad setup unless they redesign the game. At that point it wouldn't be the same game.

nekkid · Jun 16, 2019

Spark said:
Such as fighting sticks, racing wheels etc? Those games already function fine with gamepads, peripherals just make them better to play. A PC focused RTS game, with small text and units, and precise micro-oriented controls would be near unplayable with a gamepad setup unless they redesign the game. At that point it wouldn't be the same game.

No. Such as Kinect games, Guitar Hero etc.

Spark · Jun 16, 2019

nekkid said:
No. Such as Kinect games, Guitar Hero etc.

Ah, VR as well. Well I guess there's a reason why Kinect and Guitar Hero are not a thing anymore, maybe? Those peripherals also seem more exciting and more marketable to sell alongside a console/TV oriented game than a bog standard KB/M, for a game that won't be easily playable unless you're right up near the TV screen like a PC monitor.

Like I said they could easily do it, and they probably will, but that's the reason why it's not confirmed yet. Well that and probably to build up trust with their PC base by making a PC-focused RTS game for the first time in over a decade.

nekkid · Jun 16, 2019

Spark said:
Ah, VR as well. Well I guess there's a reason why Kinect and Guitar Hero are not a thing anymore, maybe? Those peripherals also seem more exciting and more marketable to sell alongside a console/TV oriented game than a bog standard KB/M, for a game that won't be easily playable unless you're right up near the TV screen like a PC monitor.

Like I said they could easily do it, and they probably will, but that's the reason why it's not confirmed yet. Well that and probably to build up trust with their PC base by making a PC-focused RTS game for the first time in over a decade.

They'd need to make it very explicit, but my opinion would be "why not?" if development is minimal?

Vj27 · Jun 16, 2019

flyingman said:
Why you throwing shades at Halo Wars though. Microsoft can have a lot of RTS together man no need to throw bus. Age of Myth,Age of Empires,Halo Wars , Gears RTS maybe even(Tactics) just make more

They are making more... just not for Xbox. Hell who's to say halo wars 3 will come to Xbox instead of exclusively to PC??

Spark · Jun 16, 2019

nekkid said:
They'd need to make it very explicit, but my opinion would be "why not?" if development is minimal?

True. Like I said, marketing and support could be a reason. And to make sure their first PC RTS game in a decade is polished on its lead platform before shipping to other devices.

Vj27 · Jun 16, 2019

Tagyhag said:
Is it really worth it to port though? How many keyboard/mice users are there on X1?

Should still be an option. Lol I had age of empires on the ds, they can add gamepad support. Won't be ideal but if you want the be the BEST then go ahead and buy a keyboard and mouse. Halo wars sold good enough to prove there's a market for it.

Theorry · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
They are making more... just not for Xbox. Hell who's to say halo wars 3 will come to Xbox instead of exclusively to PC??

Because Halo Wars since 1 is game that has been made to bring RTS to consoles. You can say its being made for consoles in mind first.

Vj27 · Jun 16, 2019

Theorry said:
Because Halo Wars since 1 is game that has been made to bring RTS to consoles. You can say its being made for consoles in mind first.

I'd say the same thing for tactics, gears is synonymous with Xbox and they decide to tell one of the most requested gears storylines on another platform...that's not cool. Yet here we are. They made a good 3 games PC exclusive for no other reason than because they can... Idk it seems like RTS/tactical games strategy is all over the place. Just... why... what do you gain from releasing solely on PC. I'm pretty sure gears 4 on PC didn't set the world I fire yet there's ALWAYS going to be a pc port. Hate to bring console wars into this but that kind of seems like a slap in the face to Xbox console fans. They test the waters with two successful RTS games and go "Yup, seems like you console peasants don't like this shit so we out 🙋🏾‍♂️" I just don't understand this logic. Man I'd love to call my dad and say hey, since we gameshare your going to be able to play your favorite game of all time day 1 but instead it's welp, should've gotten a PC instead of an Xbox 🤷🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️. I don't think that's cool at all if I'm being honest.

Theorry · Jun 16, 2019

Lets wait and see how Gears Tactics will release first.

Hadok · Jun 16, 2019

But...can we have a Midtown Madness Studio too?

Phantom88 · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
They made a good 3 games PC exclusive for no other reason than because they can... Idk it seems like RTS/tactical games strategy is all over the place. Just... why... what do you gain from releasing solely on PC.

What you gain is that you're able to go full out on design and gameplay and make an indepth game.

Maybe you're not aware but designing a strategy game for consoles has severe restrictions on gameplay. A controller simply doesnt allow the same things that a mouse and keyboard does.

So instead of doing a gimped, neutered controller strategy that wont sell and apeal to anyone, maybe they'd do one that apeals to strategists. And those are all on pc. Where the genre was invented and lived its entire life

SuikerBrood · Jun 16, 2019

The day Age of Empires receives controller support, the franchise dies.

Roman Bellic · Jun 16, 2019

Referring to Age of Empires on Xbox consoles. I know that Xbox One have mouse and keyboard support. Actually it's just an option to current game. But in games like this, it could be treated as a required peripheral device game, like Kinect-only games. Because why not? If Age of Empires is/would be difficult to make with controller play, then M+K only solution would be better than nothing. In Xbox One view it would some limitation, but in whole series point of view it would be still some wider range to players, than availability only on PC.

Burrman said:
Thx for the detailed response.

Your welcome! :)

Jimmy1984 said:
Many members of the new AOE studio are Ex-ensemble studios.

Any source of that information?

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Roman Bellic said:
Referring to Age of Empires on Xbox consoles. I know that Xbox One have mouse and keyboard support. Actually it's just an option to current game. But in games like this, it could be treated as a required peripheral device game, like Kinect-only games. Because why not? If Age of Empires is/would be difficult to make with controller play, then M+K only solution would be better than nothing. In Xbox One view it would some limitation, but in whole series point of view it would be still some wider range to players, than availability only on PC.

Your welcome! :)

Any source of that information?

https://it.ign.com/age-of-empires-i...e-of-empires-ii-definitive-edition-intervista

An italian interview

Adam Isgreen says" Ricevere così tanta fiducia da Phil Spencer e tutti gli altri responsabili della divisione videogiochi è davvero fantastico. Una buona parte del team, tra l'altro, è composta dai membri originali di Ensemble Studios e in generale siamo tutti dei grandi amanti della serie e del genere: probabilmente non c'è nessuno elemento dello studio che non ha mai giocato Age of Empires per piacere."

Translate into english "we have so much Faith by Phil Spencer and it's fantastic. A big part of the new team (he's refering to new AOE studio) are original members of Ensemble studios and everyone really loves the AOE saga

Sotha_Sil · Jun 16, 2019

Roman Bellic said:
Referring to Age of Empires on Xbox consoles. I know that Xbox One have mouse and keyboard support. Actually it's just an option to current game. But in games like this, it could be treated as a required peripheral device game, like Kinect-only games. Because why not? If Age of Empires is/would be difficult to make with controller play, then M+K only solution would be better than nothing. In Xbox One view it would some limitation, but in whole series point of view it would be still some wider range to players, than availability only on PC.

Yup. I think this is the answer. You get to keep what makes RTS games special (the complexity of what's going on at any given moment) while also opening the door to an entirely new audience.

Wamb0wneD · Jun 16, 2019

DSP said:
Glad Relic thing didn't go through, they have been really mediocre after several staff departures over the years and even if they weren't the kind of RTS they can make is antithesis to Age.

They had one job to do, make a sequel to Dawn of War and came with probably the biggest failure they could, a game that was doa and no one wanted. Before that CoH2 was also massively disappointing, a game that was worse than the first in every way. Relic is done.

I still don't get what the hell they were trying to do with the Dawn of War sequels. The first one was just so fucking good, I didn't even mind the flood of expansions, because they all had fantastic content. It's one of the best RTS games of all time. What made them go "let's abandon all of that"?

Roman Bellic · Jun 16, 2019

Jimmy1984 said:
https://it.ign.com/age-of-empires-i...e-of-empires-ii-definitive-edition-intervista

An italian interview

Adam Isgreen says" Ricevere così tanta fiducia da Phil Spencer e tutti gli altri responsabili della divisione videogiochi è davvero fantastico. Una buona parte del team, tra l'altro, è composta dai membri originali di Ensemble Studios e in generale siamo tutti dei grandi amanti della serie e del genere: probabilmente non c'è nessuno elemento dello studio che non ha mai giocato Age of Empires per piacere."

Translate into english "we have so much Faith by Phil Spencer and it's fantastic. A big part of the new team (he's refering to new AOE studio) are original members of Ensemble studios and everyone really loves the AOE saga

Ach… Thanks! :)

Why these interesting information are scattered around various interviews and websites? Microsoft should be more transparent with these little and bigger things.

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Wamb0wneD said:
I still don't get what the hell they were trying to do with the Dawn of War sequels. The first one was just so fucking good, I didn't even mind the flood of expansions, because they all had fantastic content. It's one of the best RTS games of all time. What made them go "let's abandon all of that"?

From glassdor

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Relic-Entertainment-RVW21432585.htm

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

It's really interesting: it seems that AOE 2 de Will integrate a new multiplayer system directly taken from next AOE4.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is more than just another remaster

For its 20th anniversary, Age of Empires II is getting another facelift—and a bunch of interface tweaks, new tutorials and challenges, and an entire expansion's worth of content.

www.pcworld.com

SlipperyMoose · Jun 16, 2019

This studio will apparently get a new name once the legal process is finished. I sincerely hope this is not a studio solely focused on one IP such as Age of the Empires. Perhaps while the studio is getting on its feet it will focus on Age initially but expand onto other things like Halo Wars, Rise of Nations and new IP. I have to say though I haven't been floored by Shannon Loftis thus far so I'm curious to see how this studio pans out. She does deserve a chance though so I'll see what happens.

On a side note, it's pretty cool that Microsoft has two of its studios lead by women.

Sotha_Sil · Jun 16, 2019

Jimmy1984 said:
It's really interesting: it seems that AOE 2 de Will integrate a new multiplayer system directly taken from next AOE4.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is more than just another remaster

For its 20th anniversary, Age of Empires II is getting another facelift—and a bunch of interface tweaks, new tutorials and challenges, and an entire expansion's worth of content.

www.pcworld.com

This all looks great. I can see why the top level MP competitors will thumb their nose at some of the QoL improvements, but for people who just like playing the campaigns and maybe some standard games against the AI, they sound great. And they can all be disabled.

tusharngf · Jun 16, 2019

waiting for real rise of nations sequel.

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

tusharngf said:
waiting for real rise of nations sequel.

Big huge games had been working on sequel before their acquisition. These screenshots are really impressive:

https://media.indiedb.com/images/members/1/669/668779/riseofnationsiimokcupmodern.jpg

https://m.imgur.com/gallery/EqVe39e

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Age of Empires 4 Will probably appear at Gamescom 2019. This Is the main PC games conference around the world and Germany is very popular for RTS games. Klobrille could confirms this.

https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/strategiespiele-e3-gamescom,3345389.html

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Forgotten Empires has done an incredibile work. This game Looks as modern RTS. Incredible.

4k screenshots

https://9images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069398.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

Phil's Empty Chair · Jun 16, 2019

Now bring back Monster Truck Madness.

DaciaJC · Jun 16, 2019

Jimmy1984 said:
Forgotten Empires has done an incredibile work. This game Looks as modern RTS. Incredible.

4k screenshots

https://9images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069398.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

Looks gorgeous. I won't lie, I'm not altogether fond of the sprites in the original AoE/AoK, so these definitive editions are very welcome. I can't wait to see how AoE3 DE looks, since the original was already one of the most beautiful RTSes ever in my opinion.

Detective Pidgey · Jun 16, 2019

Is it really a game for the console crowd though? Can these games really be doable with controllers?

Captain of Outer Space · Jun 16, 2019

Why did they link to Shannon's linkedin page in that article?

RdN · Jun 16, 2019

Jimmy1984 said:
Forgotten Empires has done an incredibile work. This game Looks as modern RTS. Incredible.

4k screenshots

https://9images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069398.jpg

https://9images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069398.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

https://6images.cgames.de/images/gamestar/279/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition_6069395.jpg

Holy shit, those look great!

I'm gonna add to the voice in here: MIcrosoft needs to get Age of Empires on the Xbox console.

Make it so that KB and mouse are required. I don't care, almost everybody has a KB and mouse in their homes, and if they don't, you can buy a cheap one for $10. It's not like you have to spend a lot of money on peripherals like Rock Band or even VR.

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

AOE2de multiplayer Will be server- based.

Info from Cysion (forgotten Empires developer)

https://www.aoezone.net/threads/ret...ill-be-server-based-cysion.156330/post-621888

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Question to Admin:

Could we change this thread in "AOE official thread"? I'm Guessing it's going to grow up very very soon.

B.C. · Jun 16, 2019

Burrman said:
I don't get what you're trying to say....

Lol

SuikerBrood · Jun 16, 2019

Detective Pidgey said:
Is it really a game for the console crowd though? Can these games really be doable with controllers?

No, not with a controller. But Xbox has KB+M support.

Ishmae1 · Jun 16, 2019

There's a bit of confusion in here --

Forgotten Empires, the developer working on Age II DE has members of Ensemble working there, not at the new MS Age studio
There's no change to the relationships with FE, Relic, etc. - the Age studio isn't taking over any projects from our development partners

Carry on!

Vj27 · Jun 16, 2019

Phantom88 said:
What you gain is that you're able to go full out on design and gameplay and make an indepth game.

Maybe you're not aware but designing a strategy game for consoles has severe restrictions on gameplay. A controller simply doesnt allow the same things that a mouse and keyboard does.

So instead of doing a gimped, neutered controller strategy that wont sell and apeal to anyone, maybe they'd do one that apeals to strategists. And those are all on pc. Where the genre was invented and lived its entire life

Ok I get that, PC is supreme yada yada... but how tf your going to tell me gears tactics is to much for a "simple controller" ????? Age of empires, ran, on, a, fucking, Nintendo, DS... just make "gimped" controller options a damn option. That's it, halo wars proved you can do it. Go ask 343 (or whomever made it I forgot) for help on that part. That's just stupid to release a high class game such as age of empires that was on everything under the damn sun at one point to just PC only... that sucks no matter how you slice it. End of the day it's us Xbox console players getting the short end of the stick. If I didn't have a Mac I'd really just give away my Xbox and play on PC at this point because I'd rather play ALL the games than some.

Also your logic makes zero sense for gears tactics, there's absolutely no reason for that game to not be on console.

Jimmy1984 · Jun 16, 2019

Ishmae1 said:
There's a bit of confusion in here --

Forgotten Empires, the developer working on Age II DE has members of Ensemble working there, not at the new MS Age studio
There's no change to the relationships with FE, Relic, etc. - the Age studio isn't taking over any projects from our development partners

Carry on!

So, this new studio is basically supporting Relic and FE about develop their titles.

How many people are actually working into this studio?

Tagyhag · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
Ok I get that, PC is supreme yada yada... but how tf your going to tell me gears tactics is to much for a "simple controller" ????? Age of empires, ran, on, a, fucking, Nintendo, DS... just make "gimped" controller options a damn option. That's it, halo wars proved you can do it. Go ask 343 (or whomever made it I forgot) for help on that part. That's just stupid to release a high class game such as age of empires that was on everything under the damn sun at one point to just PC only... that sucks no matter how you slice it. End of the day it's us Xbox console players getting the short end of the stick. If I didn't have a Mac I'd really just give away my Xbox and play on PC at this point because I'd rather play ALL the games than some.

Also your logic makes zero sense for gears tactics, there's absolutely no reason for that game to not be on console.

I think you might be jumping the gun a bit. Not even on the official Gears Tactics website does it say that it is PC exclusive, and what's it to stop from coming later? That one I can definitely see coming since XCOM was totally fine with a controller.

As for the gimped controller for AOE, that's not how it works. The DS version was a turn-based game. It was a completely different game.

Halo Wars works for the controller because it was DESIGNED for the controller in mind, that's why the game is so incredibly simple. Age of Empires is not designed for the controller, check out Age of Empires II for the Playstation 2, that's how the game would play with an Xbox controller, it's not worth it. Xbox owners who never played AOE would think "Why the hell is this trash so popular? It controls like ass". It would damage the brand more than help it.

The other solution would be to dumb down the game for controller users, and then you'll piss off the 99.9% of the rest of the gamers who are going to buy it on PC.

SuikerBrood · Jun 16, 2019

Vj27 said:
Ok I get that, PC is supreme yada yada... but how tf your going to tell me gears tactics is to much for a "simple controller" ????? Age of empires, ran, on, a, fucking, Nintendo, DS... just make "gimped" controller options a damn option. That's it, halo wars proved you can do it. Go ask 343 (or whomever made it I forgot) for help on that part. That's just stupid to release a high class game such as age of empires that was on everything under the damn sun at one point to just PC only... that sucks no matter how you slice it. End of the day it's us Xbox console players getting the short end of the stick. If I didn't have a Mac I'd really just give away my Xbox and play on PC at this point because I'd rather play ALL the games than some.

Also your logic makes zero sense for gears tactics, there's absolutely no reason for that game to not be on console.

Gears Tactics is a totally different genre than Age of Empires.

Yes. Gears Tactics should be on Xbox.

No. Age of Empires should not be played with a controller. It either means the game is dumbed down (and thereby destroying the franchise) or the controls would be a complete hassle. Making the game not fun at all to play.

Age of Empires on the DS was a turn based game, like Gears Tactics or XCOM.

Halo Wars wasn't good enough for a true rts game. If that's your standard, you'll never be making good strategy games again.

Microsoft announced the formation of an Age of Empires studio, headed by Shannon Loftis

Alt Account

Come Sale Away With Me

Prophet of Regret

Creative Director, Microsoft