Age of Empires Series
Ensemble Studios and Bruce Shelley's Definitive Historical RTS Dynasty
Founded in 1997 by Bruce Shelley and Rick Goodman at Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, Age of Empires fused Civilization-scale technological evolution with Warcraft real-time tactical combat, immortalized by Age of Empires II and the iconic 'Wololo' chant.
Civilization Meets Real-Time Tactical Warfare
Ensemble Studios designer Bruce Shelley, who previously co-designed Civilization with Sid Meier, conceived Age of Empires as a dynamic historical RTS. Spanning human evolution from the Stone Age through the Iron Age, players commanded villagers gathering food, wood, gold, and stone while researching technological upgrades, defended by Priests whose 'Wololo' conversion chants became legendary.
The Age of Kings and Quarter-Century Esports Longevity
In 1999, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings achieved perfection across the medieval era, introducing unique castle units like British Longbowmen, Byzantine Cataphracts, and Turkish Janissaries. Reborn in 2019 with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, its vibrant competitive esports ladders and million-viewer tournaments preserve its status as a timeless strategic standard.