[Suggestion] Why AoE2:DE needs to go modular: Smaller install size, 2-minute downloads, and seamless game nights!

Age of Empires II: DE II - Discussion
1

Hey everyone and dev team!

I’d like to open a discussion on a topic that could make a massive difference for the game’s growth and accessibility: file size and modularity.

Right now, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition sits at around 20 GB (and bloats to over 50 GB if you install the 4K pack). That might seem standard compared to modern AAA games, but every gigabyte counts—especially for a game whose core strength relies on multiplayer and playing with friends.

The Impromptu Game Night Problem: “You don’t have it installed? See you in TWO hours…”

AoE2 is a social game. You hang out with friends, decide on a whim to jump into a lobby or a LAN party, and then hit a wall: someone didn’t bring a laptop with the game installed or doesn’t have it downloaded. The mood instantly deflates while everyone waits for a massive download.

Even though ISPs market “gigabit speeds,” real-world conditions tell a different story. According to network telemetry data from Ookla (Speedtest Intelligence), the actual average download speed across Europe during peak hours (or on typical Wi-Fi/ADSL connections) hovers around 50 Mbps. That is a far cry from advertised fiber limits.

At 50 Mbps (roughly 6.25 MB/s), downloading 20 GB for one person takes almost 55 minutes.

It gets worse: if two friends need to download the game on the same connection, or sequentially, that download speed gets split in half. Now you’re staring at nearly 2 hours of waiting time! At that point, the casual game night is effectively canceled before it even begins.

1. Make Campaigns Optional (Free DLC / Add-on)

The AoE2 campaigns are top-tier, but let’s be real: a huge portion of the active multiplayer base doesn’t replay them daily. Yet, localized voiceovers in dozens of languages, cinematic audio, and campaign map assets take up about 50% of the game’s total size (~10 GB).

Why force a player who only plays 1v1 Ranked or casual team games to keep 10 GB of campaign data on their SSD?

The solution already exists on modern platforms: make the Single-Player / Campaign content a free, optional “Downloadable Content (DLC)” on Steam or “Add-on” on the Xbox Store.

  • Want to play the campaigns? Check the box and download the 10 GB.
  • Only playing multiplayer? Uncheck it and immediately free up half your storage.

This change alone would be a huge quality-of-life upgrade.

2. The Big Play: A 300 MB “Classic” Base Engine + DE Graphics DLC

Imagine taking this concept a step further.

The base engine download could ship with retro-style graphics (updated to support new civilizations, units, and architectures). A lightweight client like this would only weigh around 300 to 500 MB.

The high-definition graphics of the Definitive Edition would then become an optional, free DLC.

The benefits for the community and the game would be massive:

  • Huge PR & Media Buzz: In an era where gamers are exhausted by 150 GB bloated games, AoE2 could make headlines by bucking the trend with a hyper-lightweight footprint.
  • Nostalgia & Visual Appreciation: It would be a blast to occasionally play with the classic look. Plus, memory tricks us—we forget how pixelated 1999 actually was. Seeing the retro sprites makes you appreciate the work put into DE even more.
  • Potato PC Compatibility: The base game could run smoothly on virtually any low-end laptop without dedicated graphics, opening the gates to millions of new players.
  • Ready in 2 Minutes: Friends don’t have the game? Even with two people downloading simultaneously, 500 MB takes under two minutes. You jump straight into your lobby and start playing immediately.

Smart User Experience (UX)

To make sure new players don’t mistakenly think the classic sprites are the maximum graphics AoE2:DE has to offer:

When launching the game without the DE Graphics DLC installed, the main menu could show a quick side-by-side preview screen comparing a unit or building (e.g., Classic vs. DE Town Center or Knight) with a clear button: “Download Free Definitive Edition Graphics Pack.”

Making the game modular removes every entry barrier and ensures AoE2 remains the undisputed king of accessible RTS games.

2

Your post looks very AI generated, so I just didn’t read every single line.
A couple of options at hand:

  1. Get the original CD version and play that. Then you don’t have to think about download speeds.
  2. Get the HD version on Steam. It’s 2 GB and does exactly what you describes in your post.

Other than that. You claim to have a 300 MB game where does that come from? And 10 GB from campaigns?

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I think modularity is a good direction, but the biggest benefit isn’t just about reducing file size.

External storage solutions such as USB drives and portable SSDs already reduce many of the concerns about storage and portability. The bigger problem is maintenance.

AoE2:DE players are already split into different groups: Ranked players, campaign players, and mod/custom content players. They don’t always need the same content.

For example, a Ranked player doesn’t need to download campaign files they never use. If they want to play campaigns later, they can simply download the latest content at that time.

The main advantage of modularity is allowing different parts of AoE2:DE to be maintained independently.

If a campaign has a broken trigger, AI issue, or localization problem, it should ideally be fixed without waiting for a major update that affects the whole game.

Modularity isn’t just about smaller downloads. It’s about making AoE2:DE easier to maintain as a long-term platform.

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4

Hello,

Yes I use gemini to help me write in a proper English.

Ok I made a mistake aoe2 (king) take 500mB et not 300MB. And the 10gB it’s by openning the game files. For example there is gB of audio files of campaign (each voice is provide in all language)

Do PC have now a CD reader? Do you remember how to make it work online? It required to have good computer skills or use a thrid party software like GameRanger because you can’t just enter the IP adress of the others players.

The same reason people play DE version and not forgotten, conqueror or king edition it’s to have all the last things provide by the game. All civ, balanced, easy online game, large lobby, hotkeys.

5

Too much work doing that and maintaining that for very little upside.

The game is big but you only need to download once… Not that much people is doing these lan parties where people have to suddently download the game.

6

I think the main issue isn’t really storage size.

It’s also about how players feel about managing the game. Many players don’t want to keep content installed that they may not use for a long time, even if they have enough storage space.

The bigger benefit of modularity is maintenance and giving players more control over what they install.

AoE2:DE now has many different groups of players: Ranked players, campaign players, and mod/custom content players. They don’t always need the same things.

For example, a Ranked player may not need campaign files installed all the time. If they want to play campaigns later, they can simply download the latest version when needed.

Some players may finish a campaign or complete achievements and then want to temporarily remove that content. A modular system would let players keep what they use and download other parts again when needed.

More importantly, different parts of the game could be maintained independently. If a campaign has a broken trigger, AI issue, or localization problem, it should ideally be fixed without waiting for a large update that affects the whole game.

The goal isn’t just smaller downloads. It’s making players feel that the parts of the game they care about can be supported and fixed faster.

As AoE2:DE keeps growing, modularity could make it easier to maintain the game as a long-term platform.

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