Age of Empires 2's competitive scene is thriving — Pro play is at its best, and a grand finale is set for one of the world's most iconic venues

Age of Empires 2 has been around since 1999, and I know that the trail-blazing real-time strategy (RTS) game holds a special place in the hearts of many of our readers here at Windows Central.

As a testament to its lasting popularity, Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios delivered us a glorious Definitive Edition remaster in 2019. Not only did the original graphics, designed for low-res CRT monitors, get a beautiful upgrade, but the game also received new civilizations and campaigns, balancing changes, quality-of-life upgrades, improved multiplayer, and much more.

Since its launch, Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition has done anything but slow its momentum. It has received 10 expansion packs in the seven years since launch, with another — The Last Chieftains — expected to launch on February 17, 2026.

The thing about Age of Empires 2: DE is that, while it's a ton of fun to play yourself, it also makes for an outstanding viewing experience. In case you don't pay attention to the world of competitive Age of Empires 2 at a professional level, I'm here to let you know that you're missing out.

What's going on in the world of competitive Age of Empires 2?

Red Bull Wololo Londinium Trailer - YouTube

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Some of the best, most exciting one-on-one Age of Empires 2 ever played at a pro level occurred this month during the Red Bull Wololo: Londinium tournament's ranked qualifying ladder and last-chance qualifier.

A long list of hopefuls, including 25 of the biggest names in competitive AoE 2, signed up for a fresh Empire Wars ranked ladder and battled it out over the course of 16 days.

Played on a pool consisting of nine custom maps, including the awesome Thames addition that features the Royal Albert Hall in digital form, the Empire Wars game mode delivers competitors straight into the Feudal Age with a half-formed base and some early techs already researched. It makes for a quick, aggressive playstyle that's perfect for spectating.

And believe me, if you haven't watched high-level competitive Age of Empires 2 played by standouts like my fellow Canadian, Hera, I promise you that you have no idea what you're in for. Pro play looks nothing like what the average player can manage in their own matches, and it's truly a delight to watch.

There were some tense moments during the last minutes of the qualifying ladder that wrapped up on January 18, which resulted in a fourth-place tiebreaker series. The qualifiers then moved on to a round of 128 for a last chance at becoming one of eight advantage players heading into the grand finale, set to be hosted at the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 6, 2026.

Can I go back and watch the Red Bull Wololo: Londinium qualifier matches?

The Last 2 Hours Were INSANE! (Redbull Ladder Qualifier) - YouTube

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An ecosystem of expert commentators, including my personal favorite, T90Official on YouTube, has helped grow the game's popularity while also bringing into the spotlight some of the best players in the world.

Armed with the CaptureAge tool that significantly improves casting and viewing live or recorded games, these commentators have turned spectator AoE 2: DE into a legitimate pleasure.

While Age casters like T90Official produce plenty of great non-competitive content, the most exciting stuff definitely involves the top pro players. If you'd like to check out what I'm talking about, the T90 Extras YouTube channel has a collection of videos encompassing the aforementioned last-chance qualifiers with some of the biggest names from the esport.

Hera, the current best player in the world, has his own channel where he's been casting Londinium qualifier games since claiming the top spot on the qualifying ladder. There are plenty more casters and players to check out; these are just my go-to picks.

Wait ... Red Bull is involved with Age of Empires?

Red Bull entered the Age of Empires orbit in 2020 with its original Wololo tournament. Perhaps more popular than expected, Red Bull has hosted eight follow-up tournaments, including 2024's Wololo: El Reinado, hosted in a castle in Spain.

At the time of the tournament in Spain, Earnest Yuen, Director of Production at World's Edge, remarked that Age of Empires 2 is "more widely played than ever." You love to see it, and I hope it doesn't slow down any time soon.

Are you a fan of watching video games played at a competitive level? What are your favorites to watch? Let me know in the comments section!

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