Age of Empires 2 originally came out in 1999 and was developed by Ensemble Studios. Since then the game has grown the franchise into new heights. It received an HD edition in 2013 that increased brought back the same game with added experiences. Then Age of Empires got a definitive edition. It added three new campaigns and four more civilizations to choose from. The original title 13 civilizations, while the newest has 35.
In the games, you are trying to conquer the world as you defeat rival towns and build up your resources. it will not be easy. You will have to survive through 1000 years including the Dark, Feudal, Castle, and Imperial Ages. Each brings with it new resources, buildings, and units. They also come with their own problems. Age of Empires 2 is a strategy game that really makes you think. Whether you play alone or against others, you will need to watch out for other civilizations. You will need to keep your armies strong and watch your enemies before you make a move. The online multiplayer experience for the game is not always the greatest. Lag can really be a nuisance. While some is caused by the server, most comes from you own connection to the game. In this post we will teach you how to fix lag with a VPN. We will provide suggestions for PC and Xbox One.
How to Fix Lag Spikes in Age of Empires 2
Here is the quickest way to improve Age of Empires 2 lag on PC with a VPN.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server in the region you wish to play in.
- Test to see if your ping has lowered from your normal response time.
- Launch Age of Empires II and enjoy!
Want to fix Age of Empires 2 lag on Xbox One? If so follow these instructions.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Log into Expressvpn.com and go to the “DNS Settings” tab.
- Click the button to register your IP address.
- You can also set dynamic DNS (more technical users)
- Click on the “Dashboard” tab
- Look for the “Set up on all your devices” section and click on the “see all devices” link.
- Click on the set up guide for your console. ExpressVPN MediaStreamer supports PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. They also have a YouTube video to help Nintendo Switch users get set up.
- Make note of the IP address given in the set up box to the right of the screen.
- Set the DNS on your console to the IP given on the ExpressVPN site.
Why Does Age of Empires 2 Lag on PC and Xbox One?
The popularity of Age of Empires 2 is both a blessing and a curse. You will compete against other players with differing Internet connection speeds. If you have performance issues when using the Internet in general on Xbox One then you can expect lag spikes when playing Age of Empires 2.
The two main considerations for lag are your Internet speed and hardware. Console players can use the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer service to help. PC gamers will want to focus on CPU, memory, and graphics card. Everyone needs a fast Internet connection.
More Tips to Fix Lag Spikes in Age of Empires II
I would highly recommend using a LAN cable if you can. It normally provides a faster and more stable connection than you can get through using your WiFi. I understand that this is not possible for all players, but it could help improve your systems performance online. For those on PC you will first want to make sure your set up is optimized for the game. We will cover this further later. The last thing I would recommend for you to do is check on the Age of Empires 2 servers. They are not always up. They do maintenance on them and sometimes they are simply down. The Age of Empires Twitter is also a good place to check as they normally tell their fans when they are doing maintenance.
Otherwise, let’s look at the best way to increase your Internet speed and lower ping times. In doing so you can expect less lag and a better gaming experience. We recommend testing a VPN to improve ping and reduce your lag. The key is to find a better route between your system and the game server.
Your ISP isn’t focused on this issue as much as VPN providers. They know that it’s a competitive advantage if they can offer you a faster router to key locations. Most of the game developers host regional game servers in the same locations. This allows VPNs to offer better routes and will give you a boost in performance.
Age of Empires 2 Server Locations
While the Age of Empires 2 has not announced how they host the game. We have a suspicion that they might be using Microsoft Azure. This would make sense because their publisher is Xbox Game Studios. If this is not the case, this list will still have a wide variety of server locations that can still fit your needs.
Here are some key VPN servers locations for ExpressVPN.
- United States – Washington DC and Los Angeles
- Canada – Toronto
- Europe – London, Frankfurt, Paris
- Asia Pacific – Singapore, Tokyo, Mumbai, Sydney
- South America – Sao Paulo
- China – Hong Kong
System Requirements and Recommendations
This section is mainly for PC gamers. You will want to make sure you have the proper system specs for Age of Empires II. The minimum requirements are often not enough to enjoy the game.
You will want to come as close as possible (or above) these recommended system specs.
- Operating system – Windows 10 (64-bits) or later (64-bit)
- CPU – 2.4 GHz i5 or better
- Video Card – Nvidia GTX 650, AMD HD 5850, or better
- Memory – 8 GB RAM
Here is a little more information on using a VPN for gaming.
How to Play Age of Empires 2 with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN for reducing lag. It will help by allowing you to connect to any of the 160 different server locations across 94 countries. You will be able to reduce lag for practically any game you play online. All you have to do is connect to a location close to where your game is hosted. ExpressVPN allows you to reduce ping and make your overall experience better by allowing you full use of as much bandwidth as you need. You can easily change your location to play with others form around the world. You will also be able to have up to five connections active at a time. This will allow you to play a game in one location, while talking to friends under a different location on another device. ExpressVPN will help you reduce lag and unblock geo-restrictions.
ExpressVPN can help improve your ping and reduce lag in online games. It will also protect your data through encryption. ExpressVPN has an exclusive discount with our readers that you can take advantage of. You can get a full year of VPN for 49% off with an extra 3 months for free. You will be able to save on your favorite games. Unblock geo-restricted content and get around firewalls at work or school to play anywhere. ExpressVPN gives you a 30 day money back guarantee. You can test out the service for one month and see all the benefits it provides.
