Microsoft has lifted the lid on Age of Empires Online for the PC. It’s an MMO with free-to-play “experiences” that they hope will mash strategy with RPG. Expect levelling, quests and the ability to join up and play with other people. Apparently, you will be able to have a persistent capital city that will exist whether you’re online or not.

As you would expect from a Microsoft title, it has Games for Windows Live built in so you can message people and do whatever you crazy internet-binging folks do. The game is under development over at Robot Entertainment, the team made out of some of the staff from Age of Empires’ original creator Ensemble. You can sign up for the beta at the Age of Empires Online site now.