I’ve been playing Age of Empires since the old MSN Zone days, and I grew up mostly on Custom Scenario. Let’s be honest: most of us who played back then are now adults — likely 30+ years old or more.

What does that mean? It means the life we had as kids — with endless hours to spend playing — is long gone. Today, many of us have children, demanding jobs, and responsibilities that simply don’t allow us to dedicate hours to a single game.

I’ve noticed that reality has shifted. Finding a match is harder, and even when we do, committing more than an hour is tough. If I have one free hour in a day, I might squeeze in two matches at best — and that’s if the games don’t drag on because someone refuses to resign and instead turtles in their base.

So here’s my thought: if we want to grow the community and attract players again, maybe we need an express mode — or even an express rating ladder.

What would this look like?
A scenario or game mode designed to be short, fast-paced, and intense — somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes max. We all know the mainstays: CBA Hero, CBA, RCB. But these games are long by design. Fun, yes — but time-consuming.

I’m not a map creator myself, but I was once a competitive player with solid ratings, and I remember the thrill of quick-fire matches like Smosh. They demanded speed, practice, and sharp unit control. Unfortunately, formats like that never caught on in the CBA community because they were “too fast.”

Still, I think now is the time for speed. A faster format could make it easier for players with limited time to stay active, and it would also create great opportunities for content — live streams, quick tournaments, highlight reels — things that keep people watching and wanting to join.

I’m writing this out of love and concern for the game and community I’ve cherished for so many years. Age of Empires II is still amazing — but maybe it’s time to rethink how we play so it fits the lives we have today.

How can we make AoE more time-efficient for the modern player?

Hey . Yea i played age of Empires 2 on msn zone days after shuts down i went play on Voobly.. miss my old friends.

I think we need to draw a crowd from steam somehow.... all playing aoe 2 DE but it's kinda rubbish TBH

Hi Guys,[You must login to view link]
That’s a thoughtful way to put it. Growth isn’t always about numbers it’s also about experience, perspective, and the lessons we carry forward. Even if the group hasn’t expanded much, the shared history and maturity make it stronger. Sometimes the depth of connection matters far more than the size of the community around us.