The "Age of Empires" series has been a commercial success. As of 2008, five of its games have each sold more than one million copies. According to Gamasutra, "Age of Empires" had sold more than three million copies, and "The Rise of Rome" sold one million copies as of 2000. Around the same time, Microsoft announced that they shipped over two million copies of "The Age of Kings". In 2003, Microsoft announced the sales of one million copies for "Age of Mythology". By 2004—prior to the release of "Age of Empires III"—the "Age of Empires" franchise had sold over 15 million copies. On May 18, 2007, Ensemble Studios announced that two million copies of "Age of Empires III" had been sold.