League of Legends: From Mod to Esports Phenomenon
League of Legends, one of the most well-known games of the 21st century, was released on Oct. 27, 2009. It originated from a modded map for Warcraft III called Defense of the Ancients. League was a pioneer in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre, paving the way for other games like Smite, Dota 2, and Heroes of the Storm.
Originally released with 40 playable champions, League has grown immensely over the past 12 years. Now, players have a staggering 159 champions to choose from, with an average of four to five new champions added annually.
The Rise of Esports
In 2011, Riot Games hosted the first esports season for League competitions. The inaugural League World Championship featured only eight teams from North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia and lasted just three days. Fast forward ten years, and the League World Championship has become one of the most prestigious esports events globally. Each fall, 24 teams from around the world compete in the month-long tournament. In addition to the professional leagues, numerous regional tournaments take place throughout the year.
Expanding the League Universe
League’s success has led to the development of several spin-off games by Riot. Notably, League of Legends: Wild Rift, a mobile version of the game, was released in 2020. The fantasy world of Runeterra, where the game is set, has also inspired other games. Teamfight Tactics, an autobattler, and Legends of Runeterra, a card game, have capitalized on the League universe. Furthermore, role-playing games like Ruined King and the upcoming Song of Nunu have drawn inspiration from League.
A Global Community
With over 180 million players engaged in League-based games as of November 2021, Riot’s creation has a massive and dedicated fan base.
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