Reuters reports that Microsoft are planning to bring strategy series Age of Empires to iOS and Android devices with no immediate plans for a version of the game on Microsoft's own Windows Phones.
This isn't the first Microsoft games to launch on rival platforms; they have previously released Wordament, but Age of Empires is the most significant to date.
The mobile version of the game is to be developed by Japanese studio KLab and news of the announcement caused shares in the company to spike however, this was likely a result of initial reports which incorrectly stated Microsoft and KLab had agreed to a broader development arrangement. They've only agreed to partner for Age of Empires.
A Microsoft spokesperson commented that the tittle will be launched in English initially "with plans to release the game in other languages and on a Windows Phone in the future."
Age of Empires was initially created by the now defunct Emsemble Studios for PC. Age of Empires II was recently re-released on Steam with a HD makeover while Age of Empires Online (you can seea screenshot of the game at the top of this post), is the latest new entry in the series.
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced Halo: Spartan Assault for Windows Phone and Windows 8 devices but didn't rule out the possibility that the game could be released on iOS and Android.
