Does PingAim work with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?
Yes. PingAim detects AoE2DE_s.exe and routes its traffic through your optimal network interface using a WFP kernel driver. AoE2:DE has no kernel-level anti-cheat — it uses a user-level custom anti-tampering system that targets game memory, not network drivers. PingAim is fully compatible.
Why does the whole game slow down when I have high ping?
AoE2:DE uses deterministic lockstep simulation. Before advancing each game step, it waits for all players' inputs. If your ping is high, your inputs arrive late, and the game pauses for everyone while waiting. This is not a bug — it's fundamental to how lockstep RTS networking works. Lower latency means your inputs arrive faster and the game runs smoothly for all players.
What is a good ping for AoE2:DE?
Below 80ms is excellent. 80-150ms is playable with occasional slowdowns. Above 150ms will noticeably slow the game for all other players in your lobby and may trigger warnings. Above 300ms, the game will typically add artificial delays to commands or kick you from the match.
Why do I keep getting out-of-sync (desync) errors?
Desync means one or more clients' simulations have diverged from the others. Causes include: installed mods that introduce non-deterministic behavior, different game versions between players, severe packet loss (>5%), packet reordering on the network, or rare engine bugs. Disable all mods and ensure everyone is on the same patch version first. If desync persists, the issue is likely packet loss — PingAim can help by stabilizing the routing path.
Is AoE2:DE P2P or does it use dedicated servers?
It is a hybrid: the game uses Microsoft's Xbox Live relay servers to proxy traffic between players. Your IP is never directly exposed to other players — all traffic goes through Microsoft's Azure relay nodes. However, the synchronization model is still lockstep (not server-authoritative), meaning all clients run the simulation locally and only exchange inputs.
Can I get banned for using a network optimizer in AoE2:DE?
No. AoE2:DE has no policy against network routing tools, and there are no reported bans from their use. The game's anti-cheat targets in-memory game modifications, not network-level routing. WTFast, ExitLag, and similar tools are widely used by the AoE2 community.
Further reading
PingAim detects Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition automatically
No manual config. PingAim identifies Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition by process name and routes it through your fastest connection using a kernel-level WFP driver.