World's Edge is an American video game developer and a studio of Xbox Game Studios based in Redmond, Washington. They were established in June 2019 to oversee the Age of Empires franchise. The studio works with external studios such as Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media and Relic Entertainment to bring back the franchise.

World's Edge
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJune 2019; 5 years ago (2019-06)
FounderShannon Loftis
Headquarters,
US
Key people
ProductsAge of Empires (2019–present)
Number of employees
~40[1] (2019)
ParentXbox Game Studios

History

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At E3 2019 Xbox announced that they are establishing a new internal studio which later named World's Edge. The studio was established in 2019 by Shannon Loftis, former Head of Publishing at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, to work on the Age of Empires franchise.[2][3]

The studio's first title was Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition for which they partnered with Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media and Wicked Witch Software. They worked as an overseer to make sure the title was in the right direction.

Shannon Loftis, founder and head of the studio retired in 2022 and Michael Mann the executive producer of Age of Empires IV took her place.[4]

On the 25th anniversary of Age of Empires, World's Edge announced Xbox console ports of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires IV along with a remaster of Age of Mythology and the global version of Age of Empires Mobile.[5][6][7]

Games developed

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Year` Title Platform(s) Notes
2019 Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Microsoft Windows Partnered with Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media and Wicked Witch Software[8]
2020 Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Microsoft Windows Partnered with Forgotten Empires and Tantalus Media[9]
2021 Age of Empires IV Microsoft Windows Partnered with Relic Entertainment[10]
2023 Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Xbox One Xbox consoles port[11]
Xbox Series X/S
2023 Age of Empires IV Xbox One Xbox consoles port[5]
Xbox Series X/S
2024 Age of Mythology: Retold Microsoft Windows Remastered version of Age of Mythology.[6] Partnered with Forgotten Empires and Tantalus Media
Xbox Series X/S
Age of Empires: Mobile Android Partnered with Timi Studios[7]
iOS

References

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  1. ^ "Age of Empires' head talks the future of its new World's Edge studio, Age of Empires 4, and more". Windows Central. 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Microsoft has quietly established a new Age of Empires studio". 10 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Age of Empires IV had its gameplay debut at X019". 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Xbox legend Shannon Loftis retires from Microsoft after 29 years". 7 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b Hunt, Cale (2022-10-25). "Age of Empires 4 and Age of Empires 2: DE are coming to Xbox next year". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  6. ^ a b Hunt, Cale (2022-10-25). "Age of Mythology is finally getting a Definitive Edition remaster". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  7. ^ a b Parrish, Ash (2022-10-25). "Age of Empires is coming to a mobile device near you". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  8. ^ "Aussie devs Wicked Witch, Tantalus working on Age of Empires 2". 19 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam". Archived from the original on 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  10. ^ "Sega owned Relic Entertainment to work on Microsoft exclusive Age of Empires 4". MCV. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  11. ^ Cope, Alexander (2022-10-25). "Age of Empires II is finally coming to Xbox consoles in Jan 31. 2023, per listings". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.