Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games have evolved into one of the most popular genres in the gaming and esports world.
With challenging gameplay and intense team collaboration, MOBA games captivate millions of players around the globe.
How did this genre come to dominate the gaming scene? Read on to explore its journey.
The Birth of MOBA
The journey of the MOBA genre began in 2002 with the release of Aeon of Strife, a custom map created for Blizzard’s StarCraft.
This map introduced a concept where players controlled a single hero character in team battles, contrasting with traditional strategy game mechanics that involved controlling multiple units at once.
That same year, Blizzard released Warcraft 3, which allowed for more flexible custom map creation.
This paved the way for Defense of the Ancients (DotA), inspired by Aeon of Strife, but with richer character development and more complex gameplay.
DotA became a pioneer in popularizing the MOBA genre, garnering attention from gaming communities worldwide.
DotA and the Beginnings of Esports
The year 2004 marked an important milestone with the first DotA tournament, DotA Allstar, bringing together a growing DotA community.
This competition was held again in 2005 on a dedicated platform, DotA-Allstar.com, paving the way for large-scale tournaments in the future.
In 2009, Riot Games, then a small developer, released League of Legends (LoL), inspired by DotA but with more modern and accessible gameplay.
A year later, IceFrog, the developer behind DotA, partnered with Valve to release DotA 2, the official successor to classic DotA.
The Rise of MOBA in Esports
Major tournaments began to be organized, attracting fans and attention. In 2011, League of Legends hosted its first international tournament with a prize pool of USD 99,500, featuring teams from various countries.
In the same year, Valve held the first The International tournament for DotA 2, with a total prize pool of USD 1.6 million, making it one of the largest esports tournaments at the time.
Over time, The International continued to break records with increasingly impressive prize pools.
The International 2019 offered more than USD 34.3 million in total prize money, making OG, the winning team, one of the highest-earning teams in esports history.
The Emergence of Other MOBA Games
The success of DotA 2 and League of Legends spurred the creation of various other MOBA games, such as Smite, Vainglory, Heroes of the Storm, and Arena of Valor.
Each game brought unique features and gameplay styles, attracting players with different preferences.
Vainglory was one of the first MOBA games to succeed on the mobile platform, paving the way for a new trend in the genre.
The Growth of MOBA on Mobile Platforms
By the mid-2010s, MOBA games started to expand to mobile devices. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang emerged and quickly gained popularity, especially in Southeast Asia.
With simplified gameplay, Mobile Legends attracted a wide range of players, including those new to the genre.
The game also boasts professional tournaments watched by millions.
Riot Games also entered the mobile arena by launching League of Legends: Wild Rift in 2020, bringing the League of Legends experience in a format more suitable for mobile users.
A Strong Fan Base and Growing Popularity
The MOBA genre has fostered a competitive and solid community worldwide. In 2016, League of Legends reached its peak with over 100 million active players per month, making it one of the most popular games of all time.
Major tournaments like The International and the League of Legends World Championship attract millions of viewers, both in person and via streaming.
Since its inception in 2002 with Aeon of Strife, the MOBA genre has evolved rapidly to become one of the mainstays in the esports world.
Tournaments with million-dollar prize pools and a large fan base demonstrate that MOBA is a competitive and entertaining genre.
Games like DotA 2, League of Legends, and Mobile Legends continue to elevate the gaming experience, making MOBA a beloved genre among players of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals.
