Gas Powered Games replaces Robot as Age of Empires Online developer

Chris Taylor's Gas Powered Games (makers of the original Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander) has taken over development of the upcoming free-to-play Age of Empires Online title, according to the game's official blog. Microsoft says that it became clear during development of some of the game's content packs that the GPG team "share our long-term commitment to make this a success," and that the move has been "the plan for some time," and won't delay the game at all.

This, of course, leaves previous developer Robot Entertainment – comprised of AoE veterans from the now-shuttered Ensemble Studios – in the lurch, as Microsoft has shown them the door. On its official message board, Robot confirms that "this was always in the plan," and says that the goal all along has been to work on original titles. Now that they've handed off the reins to Taylor and GPG, the company is reportedly hard at work on a new title called Orcs Must Die! Still no word on how close we are to a release date for Age of Empires Online, but Microsoft is still pushing beta signups on its website.

Reader Comments (12)

Excellent choice. I really like both of their IPs. And Taylor is awesome. I hope this is a sign that they are really backing this game, it would be cool to see a web based RTS that is as polished as Quake live/BFHeroes (not as good an example).

Microsoft will not cut these ex Ensemble ex Robot guys a break.

This is certainly a big surprise, especially since Robot just announced "Orcs Must Die!" today. This is all kinds of weird. Obsidian is doing Dungeon Siege 3, Gas Powered is doing Age of Empires, and Robot (aka Ensemble) are simply moving along in their own direction. I wonder if it's because they're all tired of doing the same thing for however long, or if Microsoft is just being weird with their shuffling of studios and properties. More than that, Age of Empires was more or less done! It was in beta for a long time! This is the second time Ensemble people have been shown the door before their game had shipped. Or in this case, some of them probably left through the door on their own accord. Even still, all of this is too much to take in and understand the implications of all these moves. In the end, however, all that matters is the end product, and I hope all three games turned out great.

@ch3burashka from my understanding, this switch has been planned for quite some time... it seems like Microsoft contracted Robot to essentially build the game so they could hand it off to a different studio for continued support (finishing touches, patches, dlc, etc) because Robot wants to pursue their own properties. I could be wrong, but that's what I'm led to infer from all the stuff I've read.

@ch3burashka

I loved Ensemble Studios, but let's be real, they really don't make very fantastic games when they're first released. AOE3? It was kinda crappy. Then we got TWC expansion and it suddenly got a good deal better, and then with the TAD expansion it became one of the greatest RTS Games of all time, but that's only if you bought those expansions. They added all kinds of improvements and depth that the game desperately needed, and I assume many people were too turned off by the game to buy the expansions.

MS probably thought it would be better to start something else and get rid of ES. I'm still annoyed that that happened, but I can see why it did. What MS should have done is let ES recreate AOE2 and 3, because they always seem to do much better when their enhancing an already made game, and tons of people still play 2 on GR. They just need to let ES make them again with better graphics, maps, and balancing and they would make a ton of money. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening, which makes me very sad.

@chimpsmith I think a browser version with a few updates of AOE2 could have been one of the most amazing things EVER!

Also, I know I'll be stoned for this, but I also was hoping for a Halo Wars sequel from Ensemble.

@NewEraBlood Halo Wars is a great game... it's different than every other RTS and that's what it needed to be in order to make an RTS work properly on a console. Besides, I'm too lazy to worry about all the micromanaging in all the other big RTS games, so Halo Wars was just my speed, lol. I, too, am looking forward to a sequel.

Is this going to be one of those games where you spend 3 days to build a house? If it is, exit stage right.

Would've been better if Microsoft had left Ensemble the hell alone.

I suspect a train wreck in the works. Congrats to GPG, here's hoping they can save the day.

The whole thing sure is bizarre and embarrassing for both Robot and MS. The product isn't even released and its development is changing hands. Concerning the part "[the GPG team] share our long-term commitment to make this a success": OK, it's kinda obvious that MS felt Robot doesn't care about the long term success of the Age franchise. This is not a vote of confidence from Robot about AoE Online, either.

A studio this large has a hefty burn rate.. Perhaps the next announcement will be "The studio has closed, and this was always in the plan." Right.

I wish they would make a Halo Wars 2....

:(

what the f... come on ensemble or robot entertainment need to be left alone well unless they wanted to stop working on aoe online of course. I hope they make another halo wars for PC that would be Da Bomb!!!

Age of Empires Online

Gas Powered Games replaces Robot as Age of Empires Online developer

Reader Comments (12)

Posted: Feb 24th 2011 8:44PM Laivindil said

Posted: Feb 24th 2011 10:06PM oxfordfishsalon said

Posted: Feb 24th 2011 10:08PM ch3burashka said

Posted: Feb 24th 2011 11:28PM masterbedgood said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 10:03AM chimpsmith said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 4:58PM NewEraBlood said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 5:53PM masterbedgood said

Posted: Feb 24th 2011 10:24PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 12:10AM Imperial said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 3:22AM johnhanson said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 5:43AM Enigma7ic said

Posted: Feb 25th 2011 7:20AM shopping bags said

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