As a League of Legends enthusiast donning a Fnatic t-shirt, I firmly believe that esports is far from dead. Often dismissed as a fleeting trend that peaked in the early 2020s, competitive gaming has carved out its own niche, complete with unique challenges, and it is here to stay. When one thinks of esports, images of the frenetic action of a Counter-Strike Major or the dazzling spectacle of League of Legends Worlds typically come to mind. However, the enduring charm of Age of Empires 2, a strategy game that first graced the gaming world in 1999, is proving that it too has a vibrant esports scene, as evidenced by the recent Red Bull Wololo: Londinium event.
Wololo: Londinium Highlights
Held from April 1 to April 6, Wololo: Londinium showcased fierce competition in both Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires 4. With a substantial prize pool of 0,000 and thousands of fans filling the historic Royal Albert Hall, the event certainly commanded attention.
In a thrilling display of skill, last year’s champion and perennial frontrunner, Hamzah ‘Hera’ El-Baher, reclaimed the AoE 2 crown, earning a trophy that any gamer would be proud to possess. Meanwhile, Alexis ‘MarineLorD’ Eusebio continued his impressive streak by defeating Daniel ‘Wam01’ Svoboda.
According to Esports Charts, Wololo: Londinium has become the most-watched esports event for Age of Empires 2, peaking at 109,748 viewers and accumulating a staggering 1,470,424 hours of watch time. In the broader context of AoE esports, this event ranks second only to the Wololo: Legacy Age of Empires I event in 2022, which peaked at 113,600 concurrent viewers.
Notably, Londinium set a new record for Age of Empires 2, surpassing the previous high of 85,848 viewers from Wololo: El Reinado, which took place in October 2024. MarineLorD’s match alone attracted 66,705 viewers, marking a new peak for Age of Empires 4 as well, outshining El Reinado’s 44,239 peak. While these numbers may not rival the giants of the esports world—such as League of Legends Worlds, which peaked at 6,752,585 viewers in 2025, or Dota 2’s The International with 1,785,132—these figures are a testament to the resilience of esports, particularly within smaller competitive communities.
Despite the challenges facing the industry, the growth of esports remains a source of optimism. My journey as a journalist began in the realm of esports, and it continues to be one of my greatest passions. So, is Age of Empires 2 really an esport? Absolutely. And is anyone really watching it? Yes, they are. With a new Chinese expansion on the horizon for Age of Empires 4, the timing couldn’t be better for those looking to dive into this captivating world.
