Gamers are still in shock at Microsoft's decision last month to shutter Ensemble Studios. The developer is still considered one of the best in the business and their Age of Empires/Mythology RTS games for the PC have sold tens of millions of copies. Since that decision, many fans of Age of Mythology and Age of Empires III have wondered what will happen to those game's online matchmaking servers which were handled by Ensemble.

The official Age of Empires III community web site has an answer for those folks, saying, "The ESO matchmaking service for Age of Mythology and Age of Empires 3 and the expansion packs will continue to be operated and be supported after Ensemble closes its doors." Microsoft is scheduled to close Ensemble in a couple of months after the team completes its work on their Xbox 360 RTS game Halo Wars (although a new independent team made up of former Ensemble team members will launch afterwards).