It was January 2009 and despite a legacy of critical and commercial success, the Age of Empires strategy series was looking more than a little shaky. Series developer Ensemble Studios was putting the final touches on the Halo Wars RTS when corporate parent Microsoft decided that this would be an ideal time to wind up the company. At that point, it had been more than three years since the last stand alone Age of Empires instalment and the future looked bleak, which probably makes today’s announcement of Age of Empires Online that much sweeter for long time fans.

The game is being developed by Robot Entertainment, an independent studio founded by Ensemble veterans. Of some concern is the fact that the game is still being published by franchise owner Microsoft. Robot Entertainment is probably safe for the moment, as Microsoft presumably won’t shaft them until the project is much closer to completion.

The key selling point of Age of Empires Online appears to be the advent of persistent online cities that continue to grow and develop even when neglected by the player. This tends to suggest that there will be a strong emphasis on both cooperative and competitive multiplayer. One change certain to spark discussion among fans is the new visual style, which eschews realism in favour of cartoon simplicity.

Microsoft is yet to identify a release date for this long awaited PC exclusive.