While not exactly a specific date, Microsoft has confirmed that Age OF Empires Online is scheduled for this fall (autumn), a somewhat less ambiguous date than it's previous "2011" anticipation, but we were promised a specific launch date timing on May 31

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.

• • Familiar “Age” elements. “Age of Empires Online” stays true to its roots with traditional RTS gameplay, a deep player-versus-player mode and detailed historical settings. From the creation of your capital city to resource management and competitive matches, “Age of Empires” fans will feel right at home.
  • A living online civilization. Using your online capital city as home base, embark on quests alone or with a friend, earn rewards, and evolve your civilization from village to empire. Your empire continues to grow and accrue resources even when you aren’t online.
  • A new look and feel. “Age of Empires Online” brings a new, stylized art scheme and an unprecedented level of detail to PC gameplay, approachable and fun, “Age of Empires Online” lets you progress at your own pace and invites players at any experience level to login and discover the world of RTS gaming.
  • Free-to-play. Download “Age of Empires Online” free from almost anywhere and enjoy hours of gameplay with the starter Greek and Egyptian civilizations. Build your online capital city, embark on quests, level up, and explore the world of “Age of Empires Online” without paying a cent!
  • Deep selection of premium content. As your empire grows, so too does “Age of Empires Online,” with frequently released new content designed to keep the experience fresh. From new quests and regions to entirely new civilizations, “Age of Empires Online” is always evolving so you can choose the content that’s right for you and your budget.
  • Better with Games for Windows — LIVE. “Age of Empires Online” was built with Games for Windows — LIVE at its core, delivering a truly connected experience that includes achievements, a common gamertag, gamerscore and a unified friends list. With free competitive and cooperative gameplay, including co-op quests and trading, “Age of Empires Online” integrates with Games for Windows — LIVE to make your friends and friendly rivals a seamless part of the experience.