Begin the journey with your own Greek civilization, and watch as it progresses from a village to an empire. Embark on quests along the way, alone or with friends, and immerse yourself in epic tales, quirky characters, adventure, history and strategy. Together with the Games for Windows – LIVE service, “Age of Empires Online” delivers a rich, social experience that lets you play however you want — anywhere, anytime.

Marrying fresh features with iconic gameplay, “Age of Empires Online” offers something for long-time fans, newcomers and everyone in between.

The team at Microsoft Game Studios wants to make sure everyone who wanted to get into the beta for “Age of Empires Online” gets their chance before they close it to the public, so they’re opening up access to get fast-tracked into the beta for 48 hours only this Thursday-Saturday.

Simply visit http://gamesforwindows.com/ageofempiresonlinebeta between 9:01am on Thursday, 5 May and 9:01am on Saturday, 7 May.

During this time, the Games for Windows Marketplace will prompt you to sign up for a Windows Live ID and download the beta immediately - no waiting! 

Key Features:

• A persistent online capitol city that lives and grows even when you’re offline
• Cooperative multiplayer quests, trading and a level-based system that lets you progress at your own pace
• Fun, approachable style and storylines
• Free-to-play experiences via Games for Windows – Live