Ensemble says good-bye

While studio closures are becoming depressingly common, few of the outfits to be shuttered have carried with them the pedigree of Ensemble Studios. Known for its tremendously successful real-time strategy series Age of Empires, Ensemble Studios has been living on borrowed time since September, when...

While studio closures are becoming depressingly common, few of the outfits to be shuttered have carried with them the pedigree of Ensemble Studios. Known for its tremendously successful real-time strategy series Age of Empires, Ensemble Studios has been living on borrowed time since September, when Microsoft confirmed it would be closing the developer after it had completed work on the Xbox 360-exclusive Halo Wars.

At the time, Age of Empires creator Bruce Shelley blogged on the studio's official Web site about the team's reaction to the news and revealed that a number of core Ensemble developers (sans Shelley) would be striking out to form their own new company. Now in what he expects to be the site's final blog entry, Shelley said that isn't the only potential phoenix rising from the Ensemble ashes.

"There are at least two new studios being formed by ES employees and I expect both to do very well," Shelley wrote. "There were a lot of outstanding game developers here and it will be interesting to see how and what they do, both individually and as new groups, in the years ahead."

In the rest of the post, Shelley updated readers about Halo Wars' plans and ongoing support for Age of Empires and shared a peek at the developer's bittersweet party to celebrate the completion of its final game.

"It is hard to believe that the day has finally come when Ensemble Studios closes its doors and we move on to whatever is next," Shelley said, adding, "It is worth mentioning that about 60 percent of the people who worked on Age of Empires I were with the studio to the end. And it was a really special group of people who pulled together for the long hours and hard work to finish our last game to our standards."

379 Comments

  • alosborne

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 1:28 pm PT

    AOE III was one of my first RTS games. Goodbye Ensemble you will be missed.

  • Crazy_Guns

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 1:37 am PT

    Sad to see you go Ensemble, we love you! The first Age of Empires was one of my favorite games when I was younger, used to play it on the LAN with my dad all the time. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous future!

  • Omega189

    Posted Mar 19, 2009 3:31 pm PT

    The first two Age of Empires were great. I never played the 3rd, but I'm unhappy that they've closed anyway.

  • Megaship

    Posted Feb 18, 2009 12:57 am PT

    NO!!! I can't believe this! Not this company too!

  • Dagamemonkey

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 5:34 pm PT

    NO!!!!
    NO!!!!
    NO!!!!

  • alixkid

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 5:22 pm PT

    /Cry

  • jason19

    Posted Feb 12, 2009 8:47 pm PT

    well i hope halo good end i like the downlond look good but keed good work next build halo 4 pls come on

  • jameslee1997

    Posted Feb 12, 2009 4:28 am PT

    aoe and aom were both great. the halo mmorpg could've been great

  • NPSage

    Posted Feb 10, 2009 8:01 pm PT

    I loved the the Halo Wars demo. MS you're an idiot for giving these guys up. Finally a dev finds a way to put an good RTS on a console and you get rid of them?

  • Oblivionic

    Posted Feb 9, 2009 8:29 pm PT

    Sad

    AoE was my first rts game It was excellent by its time. AoE II was solid multiplayer rts game and AoM was great. I dont like AoE III as previous AoE games but it is solid rts game too

  • dersoldatgaston

    Posted Feb 9, 2009 10:43 am PT

    No more AOE.I love those games..This is very sad..

  • d_kell411

    Posted Feb 9, 2009 12:16 am PT

    I honestly thought the demo was amazingly fun, I've been playing skirmish for like 2 days now, on one map with one faction...I can only imagine what the final product will be like.

    Ensemble is the most prestigious and best known RTS specific company in the industry. (Excluding Westwood and Blizzard) Their Age of Empires franchise marked the dawn of a new genre and I'll miss Ensemble's creations greatly.

    Microsoft...Ensemble was doing fine until you bought them. But no worries, they'll come back and give Microsoft Games a run for their money. Ensemble's too good with Real Time Strategy to let this be the end of them.

  • hollow56771

    Posted Feb 7, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    this is like if Microsoft closes Bungie down takes the Halo franchise with them thank god that dosent happen! Ensemble will be missed lets just hope AOE will still do good

  • zallo

    Posted Feb 7, 2009 12:01 pm PT

    Goodbye Ensemble you will be missed.........man this is almost as sad as it would be if valve shut down *shudder*

  • sonictank

    Posted Feb 6, 2009 6:18 pm PT

    Thankyou for all the great games you have and i hope when you guys get to the new studios you give us more great games. R.I.P ensamble

  • tbolt_88

    Posted Feb 6, 2009 4:58 pm PT

    At least they go out with a bang since just from playing the demo it seems Halo Wars is one hell of a great game and a lot of fun and im not even typically a fan of RTS.

  • ckat609

    Posted Feb 6, 2009 4:14 pm PT

    I'm with Monkelf... I hope these new studios are the turning point for newer, fresher, greater games that will blow behemoth companies' butts away (i.e. EA)

  • Monkelf

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 8:48 pm PT

    All I can say is I hope these two studios blow up the gaming market and make a crap load of money, then dedicates a game at their peak to Microsoft for being the reason why they are so successful. That would be awesome irony. And all you people talking crap about Ensemble, you have poor taste in games and never really enjoyed a game to begin with. And all that time having friends who brag about AoE and how you should play it, but sticking to your stubborn ways never actually tried it. Shame on you for putting down such a customer service and player inspired driven studio.

  • EinsteinNewton

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 8:51 am PT

    what a crap move by microsoft

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 2:52 am PT

    =( I can't believe they're gone now... this is low... damn you Microsoft... damn you!!! I'LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN!!

  • gameking5000

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 1:42 am PT

    I feel like crying, literally. Ensemable was a great developer, GREAT. The age of empires series, was my favourite RTS game.No more Age of empires =(

  • Great_Ragnarok

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 8:38 pm PT

    Take care ensemble!
    I'll never tire of pwning my noob friends at AOE and AOM!
    :'(

  • arc170pilot22

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 5:36 pm PT

    Yea, its tough based on whats happening to the world, but you see what they said, two new studios. This may mean more games and this could also men less job loss.

  • PepCola

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    Ensembles*
    sorry

  • PepCola

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    I really liked Ensemles Age of Empires games, but Halo Wars just isn't looking to be anything spectacular. I love the Halo games and books, but H-Wars just looks too old school imo..

  • Chaodyn5

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 12:30 pm PT

    End of an era with that. Cheers to the AoE series!

  • 2gt6turb0

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 8:59 am PT

    nooooooooo!!! i was waiting for Age Of Empires 4 cause ensemble studios makes cool games
    This is sad man

  • 2gt6turb0

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 8:57 am PT

    I Have Age of empires 2 and Age of kings and the 3 of age of empires 3 cause those games are cool cause Ensemble Studios made it...

    I hope to continue the company and make more games

  • Niffirg6

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 5:30 am PT

    :'[

  • Hydra999

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 6:14 pm PT

    I can't believe that they are closing!! So much for my hopes on another AOM.

  • SoulTaker23

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 5:15 pm PT

    Im curious is this maybe why halo wars had been taking so long since its Esemble's final game they are trying to make it the best possible? Im not making an opinion strictly question but do feel free to ridicule me or pass me as another idiot . Any agrees or disagrees as well?

  • DarkEclipse533

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 12:53 pm PT

    Dang it i knew this would happen i wanted them to go all the way up to the present day. =(

  • Intrakitt

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 11:50 am PT

    Wow BloodMist, way to be a douche until the end.

  • JolteonEX

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 11:20 am PT

    I love the AOE series. Hearing,(or in this case reading) that ES is going to close the doors is painful. I pray that the employees who are forming new studios will do a wonderful job.

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 10:33 am PT

    Let give them thanks for changing RTs for the better

  • jameslee1997

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 3:07 am PT

    Ensemble, we gamers of the world want you back, and back forever!!!

  • the_gamer_wolf

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 2:59 am PT

    You will never be forgotten Ensemble studios...
    Thank you for all the wonderful adventures across all the years.
    I hope your new companies prosper

  • chadchurchill

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 10:27 pm PT

    Goodbye, Ensemble. You made some of my favorite games of all-time. I will never forget staying up until the wheeee hours of the morning building town centers and fighting Titans. Thank you. The gaming world is definitely a darker place now that you're gone.

  • PesmergaYuber

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 8:35 pm PT

    It sucks that Ensemble is shutting down. Cheers guys, you know how to make fantastic games! I am excited to see what new projects they can work on under a different name... all the best!

  • SoulTaker23

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 8:26 pm PT

    i will indeed never stop playing age of mythology. You strived to create state of the art games no matter the circumstances i love you guys yall are the best. I will miss your great RTS games, this brings tears to my eyes.

  • bibliomaniac15

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 8:14 pm PT

    Thank you, Ensemble, for 13 years of quality RTS games. I will not forget the thrill of smiting enemy bases with meteors or leading kings and warriors into battle.

  • raev92

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 8:09 pm PT

    R.I.P. Ensemble...

  • Rattlesnake_8

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 7:49 pm PT

    God.. why? MS... grrrrr.. Ensemble have been making awesome RTS games for years.. i still remember the original AOE. It really is a sad day.. and frustrating that MS continue to screw us.

    I was looking forward to future AOE games and a possible AOM2.. when games go to other developers to continue them they are never the same.. look at what happened to the C&C series since Westwood shut its doors. *sniff*

  • stalepretzels

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 6:38 pm PT

    Ensemble: I love you guys. You will be missed.

  • amkalfus

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:08 pm PT

    ms is greedy... actually, money makes all people greedy... why can't people just make games that they want to play...

  • chibidaniel

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:06 pm PT

    Thats horrible, if one of the new studios makes a game ill get it

  • 5011704dc

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:38 pm PT

    Guessing no AOE4 then though it would be nice as i loved the others

  • BloodMist posted Feb 2, 2009 3:38 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BloodMist

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:38 pm PT (hide)

    Hope they can finally, maybe, make a game that compares to C&C or Warcraft or Starcraft.Doubt it.You know Halo Wars is going to suck ass, and get a 9.5 on Gamespot.

  • YellowJello posted Feb 2, 2009 2:44 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    YellowJello

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:44 pm PT (hide)

    Halo Wars is, and always has been, a hopeless project. There is nowhere for it to go.

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