Age of enigmas: Microsoft are hiring for a new entry in a “well-loved strategy franchise”

Age of Mythology: Enhanced Edition was developed internally at Microsoft, as far as we can work out.

Microsoft are hiring! And they’re not looking for people to make start menus or blood-watching cameras or even plastic lounge computers – they want a bona fide game developer to help lead a team working on a game in an “established” and “well-loved” strategy series. Of which we can think of only one in Microsoft’s possession.

The job listing in question, posted on April 28, asks for a Software Development Engineer Lead.

The new employee will lead a Microsoft Studios team from the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and report directly to the head of the studio.

This “highly experienced senior games developer” will need particular expertise in graphics and simulation for the AAA project, and will also recommend middleware and tools during the course of development.

“As part of the core leadership team for the studio, you will collaborate with the design, production, art, audio, and test teams to shape the strategy for the studio and direction for our titles,” write Microsoft.

“You should be comfortable working across disciplines and organizational boundaries, partnering with other groups both inside and outside the company as needed to deliver a world-class product.”

Hmm! Microsoft’s last strategy outing was three years ago, when they commissioned Ensemble refugees Robot Entertainment to build Age of Empires Online. Chris Taylor’s Gas Powered Games took over the reigns for live development, but Age of Empires Online will shut down for good at the beginning of July (the studio didn’t fare much better).

Microsoft have just today re-released Age of Mythology on Steam, however, with full Steamworks and Twitch integration. Perhaps there are finally proper RTS developers working at the Game Studios again?

Thanks, CVG.