MORE ABOUT ESPORTS

• While Mobius Bridge is a fictional game, it was modeled after real world MOBAs such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Pokémon Unite.
• Launched in 2009, League of Legends isn’t the oldest MOBA game, but it is the most played. In 2021, LoL had over 180 million active users.
• MOBAs frequently add new characters to keep the game fresh for players. As of October 2021, Dota 2 has 122 “heroes.” League of Legends has 157 “champions.” Meanwhile, the much newer Pokémon Unite has only about 30 playable Pokémon characters.
• Many MOBA games start with a Ban Phase. During this time, teams take turns choosing characters that cannot be used during the game. This means great players must know a few different characters in case their favorite ones are banned.
• While esports are still new in high schools, different organizations are creating new opportunities for high school students to play in various leagues and tournaments. In the summer of 2021, PlayVS held the July Jam where high school and college students competed in Rocket League, League of Legends, and Fortnite to win prizes totaling $40,000!
• One of the largest MOBA events each year is the League of Legends World Championship. In 2021, the winning team earned $489,500! Since 2011, the huge event has awarded over $30 million!
• Dota 2’s international tournament gives away the biggest bucks. Any player, casual or pro, who buys the Dota 2 battle pass contributes to a huge annual prize pool. In 2021, the first place team split $18 million. Over 10 years, The international tournament has awarded over $180 million!