Microsoft will offer its popular "Age of Empires" game for Apple's iPhone and other smartphones through a tie-up with Japan's KLab Inc. Microsoft's gaming has already released a few mobile games for iOS and Android like Wordament, but "Age of Empires" is its most popular game to date to be offered beyond its own consoles.

KLab will develop a mobile version of "Age of Empires" which will be released before the end of March.

The strategy game will be released worldwide in English for iPhones and Android-based phones, "with plans to release the game in other languages and on a Windows Phone in the future," Microsoft said.