Turns out Microsoft has allowed Valve to add Age of Empires online to their Steam- Free to Play games section.

I think this is fantastic, and I might even conider buying into it, all the paid content that you can add onto the base game is on sale right now.

Is this worth playing without the paid content?

@PeasantAbuse: the paid content just adds variety (new factions) you can play the whole game with the included civilization without restrictions.

@Kidavenger said:

@PeasantAbuse: the paid content just adds variety (new factions) you can play the whole game with the included civilization without restrictions.

Oh cool, thanks. I think I'll give this a try.

@PeasantAbuse said:

Is this worth playing without the paid content?

The free version is little more than a demo, you really need to buy one of the civilisations to really get anything out if it.

But I'd say it's worth a try, it's a fun game, even if it doesn't quite live up to AoE2.

@WinterSnowblind said:

@PeasantAbuse said:

Is this worth playing without the paid content?

The free version is little more than a demo, you really need to buy one of the civilisations to really get anything out if it.

But I'd say it's worth a try, it's a fun game, even if it doesn't quite live up to AoE2.

From what I remember of the Giant Bomb coverage of this game, you don't really get any of the full factions unless you buy the "premium" version of that faction, right? Like, you're locked out of certain units, and you can't equip your units with upgrades or something?

Does it still use live?

@Seedofpower said:

Does it still use live?

Probably. There are other GFWL games on Steam.

@Seedofpower: Yeah it still uses Games for Windows Live.

@BisonHero: Without buying a premium civilization you can't equip loot classified as Rare or Epic and you are locked out of ranked PvP. A few other things are included as well.

Being free-to-play feels more like a demo of the game than anything. I enjoyed what I saw and decided to purchase a premium civ back when the game launched.

This increases my chance of purchase significantly, will definitely look out for this one at the steam summer sale.

Darn was hoping I could avoid playing it.

@emergency: a lot of the stuff already is on sale i think a premium civilization is 5 bucks

Nice, glad to see more stuff going to steam & with it being free to play will rewatch the quick look while it's downloading.

So, does this mean that Halo will come to Steam?