Forgotten Empires

Forgotten Empires is an independent game development studio that started as a fan modding community for Age of Empires II before being contracted by Microsoft to develop official expansions and eventually the full Definitive Edition remaster. The studio is the primary development team behind the modern Age of Empires revival, responsible for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, and the expansion content that has kept the franchise active and competitive since 2013. They work in close partnership with World’s Edge, Microsoft’s internal Age of Empires studio that handles overall franchise direction.

Origins as a Fan Community

Forgotten Empires began as an unofficial modding project called Forgotten Empires, a fan-made expansion for Age of Empires II that added new civilizations and content years before Microsoft had any official plans to continue the series. The mod was well-regarded in the community and caught Microsoft’s attention, leading to the team being contracted to develop The Forgotten as an official expansion for Age of Empires II: HD Edition in 2013. That relationship deepened over subsequent years as the studio took on larger and more central roles in the franchise’s revival.

Age of Empires II: HD Edition and Expansions

Age of Empires II: HD Edition released in April 2013, a remaster of the 1999 original developed by Forgotten Empires and published by Microsoft on Steam. The HD Edition was followed by several expansions developed by the studio: The Forgotten (2013), The African Kingdoms (2015), Rise of the Rajas (2016), and The Last Khans (2019). Each expansion added new civilizations, campaigns, and content, maintaining an active player base in the years before the Definitive Edition.

The Definitive Editions

Forgotten Empires developed Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, a full rebuild of the original 1997 game released in February 2018 with 4K graphics and remastered audio. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition followed in November 2019, incorporating all previous expansions alongside new civilizations, campaigns, and a comprehensive visual and audio overhaul. The Definitive Edition has sold over two million copies and sustained an active competitive community, with regular free and paid expansions continuing to add civilizations and content. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, also developed by Forgotten Empires, released in October 2020. All three Definitive Editions are available on Xbox Game Pass.

World’s Edge Partnership

Microsoft established World’s Edge in 2019 as an internal studio dedicated to the Age of Empires franchise, with Adam Isgreen as Creative Director. World’s Edge handles the overall franchise strategy, community relationships, and esports programs while Forgotten Empires and partner studios handle development. This structure has allowed the franchise to expand across multiple titles simultaneously, with Age of Empires IV developed by Relic Entertainment releasing in 2021 alongside ongoing Forgotten Empires support for the Definitive Editions.