Microsoft Buys Ensemble

Microsoft Corp. has acquired Ensemble Studios Corp., developer of the popular “Age of Empires” personal computer game series, for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 1995, Dallas-based Ensemble Studios has sold 8.5 million copies of the two-game series, making it one of the most successful PC games. Microsoft has published the games under a licensing agreement since 1995, with privately held Ensemble retaining the rights to the franchise. Ensemble is the seventh game company purchased by the Redmond, Wash., software giant in its bid to become a dominant force in the $20-billion-a-year industry. In the last 12 months, it acquired Digital Anvil in Austin, Texas, and Bungie Software Products in Chicago. Microsoft’s biggest push into games, however, is its plan to launch the Xbox video game console this fall.