Empires & Allies (2015 video game)
Freemium strategy game reskinned from Star Wars Commander.
Last updated
Empires & Allies is a strategy video game developed by Zynga, released on May 5, 2015, for Android and iOS. It is a freemium game, meaning it was free to play with optional premium purchases. The game is a reskin of the earlier Disney title Star Wars Commander, featuring different factions, units, and balance, and is notable for Zynga's later licensing and subsequent cancellation of that game.
Last updated 2026-10-21 from the source article.
Background
Empires & Allies was developed by Zynga, with the concept originating from Mark Skaggs. The project was initiated and completed entirely under the tenure of Mark Pincus, who had returned as CEO in April 2013, before development began in 2014.
The gameplay of Empires & Allies is single and multiplayer war strategy, and it is a reskin of the Disney game Star Wars Commander, which had been released one year earlier, with different factions, units, and balance. In 2020, Zynga took over publishing and development of Star Wars Commander under license (Disney retained the IP) and promised improvements to its large player community, but then announced the game's cancellation in September 2020, shutting it down in December 2020, roughly three months after the announcement.
On January 30, 2023, Zynga announced that Empires & Allies would be closed at the end of March 2023, after eight years of development. During the closure period, daily login bonuses granted 1,000 gold each day, and all processes requiring time and premium currency were greatly reduced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Empires & Allies (2015 video game)?
Empires & Allies is a mobile strategy game published by Zynga that launched on May 5, 2015, for both Android and iOS devices. It follows a freemium model, so players can download and play it for free while optionally spending real money on in-game upgrades.
How is Empires & Allies related to Star Wars Commander?
The title is essentially a reskin of Zynga's earlier Disney-licensed game Star Wars Commander, reusing the same core gameplay loop but swapping in entirely different factions, unit rosters, and balance tuning. This connection is the main reason the game is discussed in fan communities.
Who created Empires & Allies (2015)?
The game was developed by Zynga, with Mark Skaggs credited as the creator behind the project. It shipped exclusively as a mobile title on the two major smartphone platforms.
What genre and gameplay style does Empires & Allies use?
It is classified as a strategy video game in the social-casual space, where players build bases, recruit troops, and compete against other players in turn-based or real-time tactical encounters. The freemium structure encourages long-term progression through both grinding and premium purchases.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Empires & Allies (2015 video game) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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