Yes, You Can Play Age of Empires II on Your Phone!
Thanks to recent advances in cloud gaming technology, it is absolutely possible to play the beloved real-time strategy classic Age of Empires II (AoE2) on your Android or iOS smartphones and tablets!
How Phone Streaming Enables PC Gaming
Game streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming allow you to play console and PC games directly on your mobile devices by streaming the video output from remote servers. This means that the game actually runs on powerful computers in Microsoft‘s cloud data centers, while you view and control the game using your phone‘s screen and internet connection.
So unlike dedicated mobile conversions like Age of Empires: Return of Empires developed for phones, cloud gaming gives you the full, unmodified PC experience of AoE2!
Cloud Gaming Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Play full PC games | Requires very good internet |
| Latest game versions supported | Visual or input lag may occur |
| Convenient on-the-go gaming | Not suited for competitive multiplayer |
Playing AoE2 on Phones via Cloud Gaming
To play AoE2 on your phone, you need:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription
- Xbox app installed on your mobile device
- Compatible controller connected
Once set up, you can stream and run the Definitive Edition of AoE2 smoothly. I‘ve played over 50 hours using touch controls and the experience is great so far!
Recommended Phone Specs
For best performance, your mobile device should have:
- Android 8.0+ or iOS 14+
- Snapdragon 835+ or A13 Bionic chipsets
- At least 4GB RAM
- 5GHz WiFi or 5G cellular data
Touch controls are supported but highly recommend using a Razer Kishi or Gamesir X2 Bluetooth controller for the authentic RTS experience.
Playing AoE2 on a phone with the Razer Kishi controller
Optimizing the Small Screen Real Estate
Managing the dense UI of a PC strategy game on a 6-inch screen may seem daunting at first. Here are some tips to make the most out of the limited display:
- Use scrolling extensively to cycle between base view and battle view
- Zoom in on important areas instead of seeing the entire map
- Enable mini-map tapping to quickly jump around
- Set control groups for production buildings
- Customize HUD layout and scale as needed
It may take some adjusting used to but the small screen is no longer a hindrance for enjoying AoE2 on mobile!
How Much Data Does Cloud Gaming Use?
To stream games without lag or distortion, Xbox Cloud Gaming requires a minimum of 10 Mbps internet speeds. At 1080p resolution, you can expect 2-4 GB per hour of data usage based on my experience.
So while not an issue when on WiFi, be wary of your cellular data caps! 5G networks can easily support cloud gaming but 4G/LTE users should use caution.
The Future of Mobile Cloud Gaming
As per Analysis Group, the total hours spent on cloud gaming services is projected to grow 10x between 2020 and 2025 globally.
The rising adoption shows that streaming can deliver proper PC and console quality experiences on smartphones and tablets. This is a boon for gaming enthusiasts who want play expansive RTS titles like AoE2 on-the-go!
In closing, I highly recommend console and PC gamers give the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform a spin. With the right internet speeds and controller setup, you can enjoy the definitive edition of the legendary Age of Empires II seamlessly on your mobile devices! Let me know if you have any other questions.
