League of Legends

League of Legends (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game and entertainment franchise developed and published by Riot Games. First released in 2009, the game is built around competitive team matches in which players choose distinct playable characters, known as champions, and work together to defeat the opposing team. The base game is free to play and supported by optional purchases, including cosmetic items. The title became Riot Games’ flagship product and a major international competitive gaming property. It is available in multiple regions and languages, with Riot and regional partners supporting distribution, live operations, updates, and community activities. Its competitive ecosystem includes professional leagues and the annual World Championship, commonly known as Worlds. The franchise has also extended beyond the core game through related entertainment and consumer offerings, including the animated series Arcane and music projects associated with the game and its esports events. Riot Games, headquartered in Los Angeles, develops and publishes League of Legends. Tencent acquired a majority stake in Riot in 2011 and later became its sole owner. The game remains active, with ongoing balance updates, new content, and esports programming. Its positioning combines a no-cost entry point with deep team strategy, a large roster of characters, a persistent global player community, and high-profile professional competition.

League of Legends was developed by Riot Games, a game company founded by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill. Riot released the game in 2009 as a free-to-play PC title. Its team-based format, distinct playable champions, and regular live updates helped establish it as a leading game in the MOBA genre. The free-to-play model allows players to access the core game without an upfront purchase, while optional purchases support the ongoing service. A significant part of the brand’s development has been its competitive scene. Riot built regional professional competitions and an international championship, creating a year-round esports presence around the game. The League of Legends World Championship became the franchise’s signature tournament, bringing together top teams from regional leagues. Competitive play, streaming, and community events helped make the game a globally recognized esports property as well as a commercial game. Tencent acquired a majority stake in Riot Games in 2011 and later became the company’s sole owner. Riot continued to operate as the developer and publisher of League of Legends. The game expanded into markets around the world, with localized services and regional esports structures. It has remained a live-service title, receiving continuing gameplay adjustments, champion releases, events, and other updates. Over time, Riot extended the League of Legends intellectual property into other formats. The animated series Arcane, released in 2021, drew on the game’s setting and characters, while music and entertainment projects have also supported game launches and esports events. These extensions broadened the brand beyond the original PC game without displacing it as the central product. League of Legends continues to be positioned around accessible entry, team-based competitive play, ongoing content, and a large international esports community.

• 2021

  Arcane expands the franchise

• 2011

  Tencent acquires a majority stake in Riot Games

• 2009

  League of Legends launches

A free-to-play, globally operated team-strategy game positioned around competitive depth, a broad character roster, live-service updates, and a prominent esports ecosystem.

• League of Legends

  The flagship free-to-play PC MOBA game, featuring team-based competitive matches and a roster of champions.

• League of Legends esports

  Regional professional leagues and international tournaments, including the annual World Championship.

• Arcane

  An animated series based on the world and characters associated with League of Legends.

• 2022

  Riot Games sues Imba Technology over alleged game copying

  Riot Games filed a complaint in Los Angeles federal court alleging that Imba Technology's game copied characters, text and other features from League of Legends. Riot asked the court to block sales of Imba's game and award damages and attorneys' fees. The source reports the allegations only and does not describe a court determination.

  Source

• 2020

  Tencent sues over alleged cloud distribution of its games

  Tencent reportedly sued an unnamed Guangzhou-based technology company in China, accusing it of making Tencent games available through a cloud gaming service without permission and alleging unfair competition. Tencent sought damages of more than 9.6 million RMB.

  Source

Read more

• Free-to-play live-service modelOther

• 2026.10.09

  Reported2026.10.09

  League of Legends releases S16 Worlds theme song 'Know My Name' with official MV[5]《英雄联盟》发布2026全球总决赛（S16）主题曲《Know My Name》及官方MVfinance.sina.com.cn

  On October 9, 2026, Riot Games released 'Know My Name', the theme song for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship (S16), performed by Riot's virtual hip-hop group True Damage, with the official MV launching simultaneously. The MV centers on Faker and reviews his run of World Championship titles with T1.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2022.01.22

  Riot Games sues Imba Technology over alleged game copying[4]Riot Games sues Imba Technology over alleged game copyingphoneworld.com.pk

  Riot Games filed a complaint in Los Angeles federal court alleging that Imba Technology's game copied characters, text and other features from League of Legends. Riot asked the court to block sales of Imba's game and award damages and attorneys' fees; the source reports allegations, not a court determination.

• 2020.12.18

  Reported2020.12.18

  Mercedes-Benz Korea sponsors League of Legends All-Star Event[6]梅赛德斯-奔驰韩国赞助《英雄联盟》全明星赛koreaherald.com

  Mercedes-Benz Korea sponsored the year-end League of Legends All-Star Event as its sole official partner. The event ran from Friday through Sunday.

  Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.

• 2020.10.19

  OPPO launches League of Legends S10 limited-edition Find X2[7]OPPO推出英雄联盟S10限定版Find X2citnews.com.cn

  OPPO launched the OPPO Find X2 League of Legends S10 limited edition on October 19, 2020, with design elements based on the game.

• 2020.06.14

  Reported2020.06.14

  League of Legends announces planned preseason item and shop changes[8]《英雄联盟》宣布计划推出季前装备及商店改动setn.com

  League of Legends lead designer Mark Yetter said the game would receive major changes to its in-game items and shop interface in 2021. The planned update includes new items and improvements to some existing items.

• Unconfirmed

  YY launches FPX championship-skin promotion[9]YY推出FPX冠军皮肤福利活动donews.com

  YY launched a promotional activity offering League of Legends players opportunities to win FPX championship-skin items and other rewards, with activities running from May 7 to May 20.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2020.04.02

  Tencent sues over alleged cloud distribution of its games[3]Tencent sues over alleged cloud distribution of its gamesgamesindustry.biz

  Tencent reportedly sued an unnamed Guangzhou-based technology company in China, accusing it of making Tencent games available through a cloud gaming service without permission and alleging unfair competition. Tencent sought damages of more than 9.6 million RMB.

• Unconfirmed

  League of Legends increases its weekly free-hero rotation[10]《英雄联盟》增加每周免费英雄轮换数量xiazai.zol.com.cn

  League of Legends increased its weekly free-hero rotation to 15 heroes, equal to 10% of the game's total hero count after rounding; four heroes were also made permanently free on Chinese servers.

• Unconfirmed

  League of Legends discusses a possible 1v1 mode[11]《英雄联盟》或将推出1V1模式xiazai.zol.com.cn

  The article reports that Riot Games’ founder said League of Legends might introduce a 1v1 mode, potentially as a rotating mode; the article does not establish that it has launched.

Read more

1. 1League of Legends official websiteleagueoflegends.com
2. 2League of Legends — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Tencent sues over alleged cloud distribution of its gamesgamesindustry.biz
4. 4Riot Games sues Imba Technology over alleged game copyingphoneworld.com.pk
5. 5《英雄联盟》发布2026全球总决赛（S16）主题曲《Know My Name》及官方MVfinance.sina.com.cn
6. 6梅赛德斯-奔驰韩国赞助《英雄联盟》全明星赛koreaherald.com
7. 7OPPO推出英雄联盟S10限定版Find X2citnews.com.cn
8. 8《英雄联盟》宣布计划推出季前装备及商店改动setn.com
9. 9YY推出FPX冠军皮肤福利活动donews.com
10. 10《英雄联盟》增加每周免费英雄轮换数量xiazai.zol.com.cn
11. 11《英雄联盟》或将推出1V1模式xiazai.zol.com.cn
12. 12Riot Games Sues Over Alleged Teamfight Tactics Rip-Offpcmag.com