Meaning
What does AOE mean?
AOE is a popular acronym in gaming, which may refer to multiple phrases, depending on the context.
In one case, “AoE” is the acronym of the historical real time strategy title, Age of Empires.
In multiplayer video games, such as League of Legends, or DOTA 2 it refers to the phrase “Area of Effect” where the affect of a player’s skill unfurls.
Origin
What's the origin of AOE?
The first Age of Empires video game was released by Ensemble Studios in October, 1997.
The series grew to be a popular series among fans of all ages.
The acronym’s second significance, referring to the phrase “area of effect” started appearing in the early 2000’s, with multiplayer RTS games like Starcraft, Warcraft III or DOTA.
Spread & Usage
How did AOE spread?
With the rising popularity of real time strategy multiplayer games, the significance of “AOE” grew among players, who would use the acronym in in-game chat.
As of 2021, the abbreviation may be encountered in video game titles such as League of Legends, DOTA 2 or Heroes of the Storm, as well as gaming forums and blogs.