Why the future of League of Legends is mobile

League of Legends: Wild Rift is taking the game to smartphones, but mobile MOBA games are already popular in China and Southeast Asia

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Why the future of League of Legends is mobile

Josh Ye

Published: 10:00am, 17 Oct 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

The Southeast Asian Games will make history this year by featuring esports as a medal sport for the first time. But when organizers sought input on what games to include, they got a surprising answer from Tencent.

League of Legends might be the most successful esports game in the world, but the rise of mobile gaming is presenting new challenges. (Picture: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP)

Organizers expected the Chinese gaming giant to recommend League of Legends, the popular MOBA game from subsidiary Riot Games. Shockingly, Tencent instead recommended the mobile League of Legends clone Arena of Valor, the organizers told Abacus.

MOBA explained: One of the most popular genres in esports is making a push on mobile

While Tencent is best known for its mobile games, League of Legends is arguably the world’s most successful esports game right now. But for Tencent, at least, it seems the future is clear… and it’s mobile.

League of Legends, the esports giant

Playing MOBA games on mobile is a unique experience. Many hardcore League of Legends fans have traditionally looked down on mobile MOBA games, believing the complexity of such games can’t be replicated on a mobile platform. And they’re right, but that’s not stopping mobile from racking up millions of players, effectively creating two different types of MOBA players.

“In general, mobile MOBA gamers and PC MOBA gamers in Southeast Asia are distinct groups. Mobile MOBA players might not play PC MOBA games and vice versa,” said Darang S Candra, an analyst with Niko Partners.

When a complex 5v5 MOBA game like League of Legends is ported to mobile, playtime is cut in half and gameplay becomes much simpler. This compromise has now split the MOBA community. The accessibility of mobile games means things are shifting in the world of gaming.

China beat Taiwan in the Arena of Valor finals at the 2018 Asian Games. (Picture: Dhemas Reviyanto/AP)

The Chinese version of Arena of Valor, known as Honor of Kings, had more than 200 million users at its peak. It’s been the country’s most popular and bankable game for nearly four years. Since its launch in October 2015, the game has grossed an estimated US$4.5 billion globally on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, according to Sensor Tower.