League of Legends
Released by Riot Games in 2009, League of Legends is a free-to-play MOBA in which two teams of five try to destroy each other's base; since 2012 it has had a Turkish server and full Turkish voice-over.
League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) developed and published by US-based Riot Games. It was released for Windows on 27 October 2009. Riot describes it simply as a 5v5 MOBA in which teams fight to destroy the opposing base.
The game turned a genre born from Defense of the Ancients, a fan-made Warcraft III map, into a standalone free game, and became the best-known title of that genre worldwide.
What is it?
Every match pits two teams of five against each other. Each player chooses one of more than 140 champions, according to Riot, each with a passive, three basic abilities and a powerful ultimate. The goal is to destroy the enemy Nexus.
How is it played?
The main map, Summoner's Rift, has three lanes (top, mid and bottom) separated by jungle, with towers and inhibitors guarding each base. Players usually split into five roles:
- Top lane: durable fighters holding a lane alone.
- Jungle: roams between lanes and secures objectives.
- Mid lane: champions controlling the centre of the map.
- Marksman (bottom lane): ranged, sustained damage dealers.
- Support: protects and empowers teammates.
During a match players earn gold and experience to buy items, and neutral monsters such as Baron Nashor and the dragons give team-wide bonuses. A match usually lasts around half an hour, and each one starts from scratch.
Platforms and business model
League of Legends runs on Windows and macOS. It has been free to play since day one; revenue comes from cosmetic items such as skins that do not affect power, and champions can also be unlocked with in-game currency.
Turkish language and Turkey
League of Legends is one of the most thoroughly localised games in Turkey. Its Turkish server opened in 2012, and the interface, subtitles and voice-over are fully Turkish. Riot's Turkish support page says it was the first game localised in Turkey with such a large cast, a cast that keeps growing with new champions; the page lists, for example, Gรผlen Karaman as the narrator, Elif Acehan as Ahri and Atilla ลendil as Aatrox.
Turkey's own professional league has also built a local esports scene around the game for years.
Why is it so popular?
Several factors stand out. Being free lowered the barrier to entry, and matches that start from zero keep the "one more game" feeling alive. The large champion roster and regular balance updates mean the game is never fully "solved".
Its biggest cultural impact is in esports: Riot's World Championship is among the most-watched esports events in the world. The universe has also moved beyond the game: the Netflix animated series Arcane (2021) introduced the cities of Piltover and Zaun to viewers who had never played.
For a game approaching its seventeenth year, the real question is whether newcomers can clear its learning curve. Its depth is both its greatest strength and the biggest hurdle for new players.
