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Age of Empires marching onto iOS, Android
Social game developer Klab is working on a "mobile version of Microsoft Studio's Age of Empires franchise" for iOS and Android. The news follows a Nikkei report that claimed Microsoft agreed to a deal with Klab for various mobile versions of the former's games, including what Nikkei specified as a free-to-play version of strategy series Age of Empires. However, in a statement issued to Polygon, Microsoft only confirmed the iOS and Android version of Age of Empires. The statement also noted certain reports "included incorrect information about additional Xbox Live-based games on iOS and Android," before adding that "there are no further announcements beyond Age of Empires at this time." While that leaves the door ajar, at the moment Age of Empires is the one confirmed to be headed for mobiles. Microsoft's statement added the game will be initially made in English for iOS and Android, but there are plans for other languages, as well as a Windows Phone version, down the line.
Nikkei: Microsoft porting first-party game franchises to Android and iOS (update: not quite)
Microsoft is selective about where its first-party game franchises appear -- outside of lightweight releases like Kinectimals and Wordament, it prefers to use games as technology showcases and system sellers. It may not be picky for much longer, though, as Nikkei claims that Microsoft has reached a deal with Japan's KLab to develop Android and iOS versions of its first-party titles. The deal reportedly includes adaptations of both PC and Xbox games, and would start with a free-to-play variant of Age of Empires that could launch before the end of the 2013 fiscal year. We've reached out to Microsoft to verify the rumor, but it's clear that the arrangement could be a breakthrough for gamers who aren't wedded to Microsoft's existing mobile strategy. Update: Microsoft's Phil Spencer says that the report wasn't completely right -- the company isn't bringing Xbox games to non-Microsoft devices, Kinectimals and Wordament notwithstanding.
