A five-versus-five team strategy game, and how it became a pillar of esports.
A team strategy game in which two sides of five compete to destroy the opposing base. Released in 2009 and serviced continuously since, it is regarded as the title that popularised the MOBA genre. Base play is free, with spending concentrated on cosmetic items outside gameplay.
Every match begins on the same map, yet plays out very differently depending on character selection and where resources are invested first. Results are not decided by individual skill alone โ team-level judgement translates directly into winning and losing, which makes communication and role division core to the game.
Clear spectating rules and match lengths that stay within a predictable range make it well suited to broadcast. Regional leagues and international tournaments run on a regular calendar, and it is invariably mentioned in discussions of the scale of the esports industry. A substantial share of its audience watches without playing.
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