In order to understand Red Bull Wololo, it’s important to first understand the Age of Empires games.
What is the Age of Empires games series?
Age of Empires is a classic RTS (real-time strategy) franchise that kicked off back in 1997. To date, we’ve seen nine main titles plus expansion packs—most recently Age of Empires IV, released October 2021, or 10/2021. Ensemble Studios and Xbox Game Studios have taken us from the Stone Age through the Iron Age all the way to the Roman Empire. Each new edition sharpens graphics and gameplay, building a loyal fanbase thanks to its focus on historical battles and fair play.
The Red Bull Wololo series
If you’ve ever played AoE II, you know "Wololo" is the priest’s chant when converting enemy units. Since 2020, Red Bull Gaming has flipped that into the ultimate call to arms for gamers worldwide. Mambo! Let’s roll through the milestones:
- Red Bull Wololo I (2020) kicked off with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition in Empire Wars mode. 16 players squared off for a prize pool of ~KSh 2,300,000.
- Red Bull Wololo II (late 2020) kept the 16-player format in AoE II, bumping the pot to ~KSh 3,900,000.
- Red Bull Wololo III (early 2021) stuck to AoE II: Definitive Edition with the same stake of ~KSh 3,900,000.
- Red Bull Wololo IV (mid 2021) featured Age of Empires II: Lords of the West, again KSh 3.9M up for grabs.
- Red Bull Wololo V (2021) was the first LAN event—14 gladiators duked it out in AoE II for a sweet KSh 13,000,000 prize. 70,000 viewers tuned in!
- Red Bull Wololo Legacy (2022) marked 25 years of AoE with three simultaneous tournaments: AoE I: The Rise of Rome (8 players, KSh 6,500,000), AoE II (16 players, KSh 26,000,000) and AoE IV (16 players, KSh 39,000,000). Total pot: ~KSh 71,500,000. Finals went down at Heidelberg Castle, Germany.
Red Bull Wololo’s evolution mirrors that of Age of Empires itself—always levelling up graphics, game modes and story arcs.