It features a wide array of high-definition graphics upgrades, built-in support for widescreen monitors, and a brand new multiplayer front-end that can communicate with digital distribution service Steam. It represents a full graphical upgrade built over the original AoE2 title that was developed by Ensemble Studios in the distant 1999. Age of Empires II: HD Edition is a real-time strategy video game developed by Hidden Path Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios on PC in 2013.