AppleInsider Staff
Microsoft is planning to bring a number of its PC gaming titles to Apple's iOS and Google's Android mobile platforms, with "Age of Empires" already confirmed to be the first of a possible series of ports.
A report from Japan's Nikkei daily said the Redmond tech giant recently formed a partnership with mobile developer KLab, which has licensed at least one game, Age of Empires, for global release sometime in 2013, reports Reuters.
Microsoft may not bring its entire catalog to mobile, however, as the company told The Verge "some reports included incorrect information about additional Xbox Live-based games on iOS and Android but there are no further announcements beyond Age of Empires at this time."
KLab isn't a well-known developer and has only a handful of games to its name, the biggest being Gigabot Wars and Lord of the Dragons.
It is suspected that Microsoft is looking to leverage older or otherwise low-performing games for a bit of extra profit by going through a third-party developer. The Windows maker has already published a few mobile-centric games for iOS, including Ms Splosion Man and Tentacles: Enter the Dolphin, the latter of which was an App Store Editors' Choice pick.
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20 Comments
So Microsoft is bring a major title to iOS and Android before Windows phone?
It's been a long time since I last played AOE, but I wouldn't mind having AOE II on iPad. And I specifically mean number two, because AOE II is the only true classic and it's easily the best one out of the series. I don't know about the IAP crap though. I'd rather pay a set amount upfront.
I used to play AOE II on Gameranger a long time ago, and back then I remember joining multiplayer games with a group of regulars. They were reliable players (not douchebags and unreliable people who would quit or drop from a game) and the game could go on for hours and hours and last all night. Truly epic battles! 4 plyrs VS 4 plyrs.
One word: Respect!
Are you sure it won't be part of "Xbox 365", requiring a $99/year subscription?
Are you sure it won't be part of "Xbox 365", requiring a $99/year subscription?
Mmmm. Hadn't thought of that.