Hello there Age community!
I wanted to introduce myself. My name’s Emma Bridle and I’ll soon be joining the Age of Empires team as Head of Player Engagement. I’ll be arriving in the US after six years at legendary British game studio Rare—makers of Sea of Thieves—where I ran the in-house Community Team. I love being part of Xbox Games Studios and am excited to continue that adventure with a franchise I’ve loved since childhood.
I first played Age of Empires in my bedroom on a PC my dad built me in 1999. My brother and I would shout between our bedrooms as we played separately. Then followed Age 2 and a very long LAN cable so we could play together. Of all the Xbox Games Studio and franchises, Age of Empires has always been at the top of my list of places I’d want to work elsewhere in the Microsoft family. I’ve been keeping an eye on Age of Empires from afar these past few years and am so excited to make the transition from fan to developer. Every person I’ve met so far from the Age of Empires team is a true fan and so passionate about creating the best possible experience for you, the players. Consider me and my team your direct connection to those developers.
On a personal note, I’ve always loved games and human history and Age of Empires encapsulates the magic of both. I chose to study human religious and cultural history at university and then ended up in the games industry after initially training to be a journalist. It’s been an amazing career so far and this next step is the most exciting yet.
I’m incredibly passionate about gaming communities. I can’t think of a single fandom that’s as dedicated and loyal as gamers. You are the lifeblood of what we do as developers and myself and the Age Community Team will be working hard to keep open a two-way conversation between you, the players, and us, the people lucky enough to work on these incredible games. We are, after all, making the games for you. There’ll be more than just feedback, we’ll keep you entertained, connect you to each other and celebrate you and your dedication to this amazing franchise. I’ve been hanging out in the forums, Discord servers, and on social channels over the last few months, getting a feel for what you’re passionate about, and I am excited to work with you.
A big thank you to Rare and the Sea of Thieves community for a wonderful six years. Another huge thank you to the Age of Empires team for being so welcoming as I’ve prepared for my move over the Atlantic to join them.
I can’t wait to get started; I’m looking forward to getting to know you all. If you want to say hi at any point, please feel free to tweet me.
Wololo!
Emma