Microsoft will shut down Ensemble Studios, which they acquired in 2001, as soon as Halo Wars ships early next year. In an official statement to Gamespot, the company called it "a fiscally rooted decision that keeps [Microsoft Game Studios] on its growth path". I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, even though the word "fiscally" might be a clue. It's hard to believe Ensemble wasn't a profitable developer. It's Age of Empires games have always been hugely successful.

All is not lost for fans of Ensemble's real time strategy games. The announcement specifies that a core group of Ensemble folks will form an independent development studio to do post-release support for Halo Wars and to make more games for Microsoft. This sounds less like a closing and more like a drastic reshuffling. Also, to Microsoft's credit, this wasn't some sudden lock-out. Ensemble's employees get advance notice and a few more months of work before the studio is shuttered.

It's the end of an era for die-hard real time strategy game fans like me. Even though Ensemble's upcoming Halo Wars is a "dumbed-down" console game, I had every hope they were still going to develop for us harder-core fans who like managing our villagers, unit stances, and teensy incremental tech bonuses. Say what you will about Age of Empires III, but it was a detailed, complex, in-depth, grand, fascinating game that I still play regularly. And even Ensemble's clever fantasy/history mash-up, Age of Mythology, still holds up. I just lost a 2 vs. 2 game a few days ago. They don't make them like this anymore. Hopefully, Ensemble will re-form and return to its roots. Until then, I'll just have to get as much mileage as I can from Age of Empires III and Age of Mythology.