Age of Empires III News

The Digital Britain report contained dire warnings about the state of the British game industry--but also laid out plans for how to get things back on track.

Halo Wars dev alum discusses his former employer's fall, forming a new studio during a recession, and the state of the RTS genre.

Third independent studio emerges in wake of Microsoft's closure of Halo Wars developer; first game to be a futuristic online game.

Massive fan base for Microsoft's sci-fi franchise makes Ensemble Studios' 360-exclusive swan song go platinum in less than three weeks.

Following Robot Entertainment reveal, more Age of Empires vets set up new Dallas, Texas-based shop.

Tony Goodman and other veterans of Age of Empires studio launch placeholder Web site for new development house.

Age of Empires creator Bruce Shelley says team was shocked, disappointed; adds he won't be working at upstart offshoot.

[UPDATE] Gamasutra reports that the soon-to-be-shuttered Microsoft studio was working on a massively multiplayer spin-off of the shooter series; 50 prototype screenshots leaked, followed by concept art which all but confirms project.

Following confirmation that Ensemble will close, Microsoft confirms that it will retain the rights to acclaimed RTS franchise.

Publisher affirms rumors that it will dissolve Halo Wars dev upon game's completion; leadership team to form new studio that will "work on other projects with Microsoft Game Studios."

[UPDATE] Two independent reports claim publisher has already begun canning staff at Halo Wars shop in advance of game's completion; publisher confirms.

Expansion to World of Warcraft sells 2.25 million copies at US retail, original game comes in second with 914,000 sold.

Big Huge Games' take on Age of Empires III sets sail to manufacturers, arrives for Vista, XP PCs on October 23.

Developer of Age of Empires series thinks striking a balance between appealing to hardcore and casual gamers was key to success, hinted at space-based installment for franchise.

King of Fighters gets the big-screen treatment, Turbo Squid's new user-made-content site launches, American McGee's Grimm gets GameTapped, and Peter Jackson might still produce the Halo movie.

Microsoft's popular RTS will get Asian Dynasties add-on this fall; Big Huge Games taking dev reins from Ensemble.

World of Warcraft and its Burning Crusade expansion top the charts as The Sims 2 continues racking up sales.

2004 megahits World of Warcraft and The Sims 2 continue to top sales, Microsoft Flight Simulator X sales take off again.

NPD numbers show slight growth in US retail sales of PC games for the year, figures still down from 2004.