These features not only gave the game a clear sense of progression in each match, as you could level up and buy better equipment, but also helped to build strategies around certain heroes. The mod worked well because it took advantage of several features native to Warcraft III, such as hero levelling, experience points, and collecting items – all of these became integral to the competitive aspect of the gameplay. And, in a strange case of a snake eating its own tail, Defense of the Ancients seeded the idea for Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard’s own MOBA. After all, technically, Dota 2 is the mod’s sequel.
In 2016, League of Legends had more than 100 million monthly users, making it the most popular game of its time.īoth League of Legends and Dota 2 take their cues from the same Warcraft III mod, Defense of the Ancients. Both have a huge presence in esports, defined the MOBA genre, and make millions upon millions in yearly revenue. League of Legends and Dota 2 are two of the most important games of the past decade.
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