Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) – History, Evolution, and the Rise of a Global Esports Giant

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, commonly known as MLBB, is one of the most influential mobile MOBA games ever created. Released in 2016, MLBB transformed the mobile gaming world with its fast-paced battles, iconic heroes, and competitive esports ecosystem. But its journey wasn’t simple—MLBB evolved through multiple stages, updates, controversies, and innovations before becoming a global gaming phenomenon.

This detailed article explores the complete history and evolution of MLBB, from its beginning to its modern age. If you’re an MLBB fan, gamer, or content creator, this is your perfect guide.

1. The Beginning of Mobile Legends (2016)

A Game Born for Mobile Gamers

In 2016, when MOBA games were mostly PC-dominant (like Dota 2 and League of Legends), there was no truly popular mobile MOBA. Moonton, a small Chinese game studio at the time, saw the opportunity and created:

✔ A fast, 10-minute MOBA
✔ With simple controls
✔ Optimized for low-end devices
✔ Free-to-play for everyone

MLBB launched quietly on Android and iOS but quickly caught attention across Southeast Asia, especially:

Indonesia
Philippines
Malaysia
Singapore
Myanmar
India (later banned temporarily and unbanned)

The reason for its success? Accessibility. Anyone with a low-budget phone could play a high-quality MOBA. This made MLBB a household name among teenagers and young adults.

2. The Early Growth Phase (2017–2018)

Hero Expansion and Better Graphics

After launch, MLBB added new heroes almost every month. Early favorites included:

Alucard
Layla
Miya
Balmond
Karina
Saber
Nana

Each year, the hero roster expanded, bringing better designs, animations, and voice lines. Moonton continuously updated the graphics, map effects, and skills to keep the game fresh.

First Major Maps and UI Update

The game introduced:

The Celestial Palace map
Improved mini-map and jungle layout
MMR and rank system updates
Better matchmaking

This period made MLBB stable, popular, and competitive.

3. Rise of MLBB Esports (2018–2019)

Birth of MPL (Mobile Legends Professional League)

2018 was a turning point. Moonton launched the MPL, an official competitive league. Countries started forming professional teams like:

EVOS Esports
RRQ Hoshi
ONIC
Blacklist International
Bren Esports

Big prize pools attracted massive talent and fanbases.

M1 World Championship (2019)

Held in Malaysia, M1 became the first global MLBB tournament.
Champion: EVOS Legends (Indonesia)

The success of M1 proved MLBB could stand beside big PC esports like Valorant, Dota, and CS.

4. MLBB vs Legal Issues (2019–2020)

In 2019, Riot Games accused Moonton of copying elements from League of Legends. This caused huge controversy. However:

Moonton redesigned many assets
Updated hero visuals
Modified UI
Improved originality

After this, MLBB focused heavily on unique stories, new lore, and advanced animations.

This phase matured the game creatively and technologically.

5. Project NEXT – A Massive Evolution (2020–2021)

Project NEXT was MLBB’s biggest update in history.

Major Improvements Introduced

✔ High-definition hero models
✔ New skill animations
✔ Updated storylines
✔ New sound effects and VFX
✔ Overhauled user interface
✔ Emblem system revamp

Classic Hero Revamps

Many classic heroes received full redesigns:

Miya
Layla
Zilong
Eudora
Tigreal

These changes gave MLBB a modern and polished look.

6. New Age of MLBB Esports – M2, M3, and Beyond (2021–2023)

M2 (Singapore – 2021)

Champion: Bren Esports (Philippines)
MLBB saw a huge fanbase explosion after this event.

M3 (Singapore – 2021)

Champion: Blacklist International (Philippines)
The iconic “UBE Strategy” became globally recognized.

M4 (Indonesia – 2023)

Champion: ECHO (Philippines)
Known for aggressive playstyle and dominating Blacklist 4–0.

M5 (Philippines – 2023)

Champion: AP Bren (Philippines)
This cemented the Philippines as the strongest MLBB region.

7. MLBB Story Expansion & New Universe (2022–2024)

Moonton developed a connected universe, including:

Lightborn
Abyss
Celestial Palace
Moniyan Empire
Dawn of Heroes
Sanctum Island

Heroes now had full backstories, relationships, and animated trailers.

The game started releasing cinematic-quality videos similar to:

League of Legends cinematics
Genshin Impact trailers

This boosted MLBB’s storytelling appeal worldwide.

8. Mythic Immortal & Ranked Evolution (2023–2024)

Moonton improved the ranked system:

New Rank Tiers

Legend
Mythic
Mythical Glory
Mythic Immortal (Top benchmark)

Seasonal Rewards

Skins
Emblems
Profile items

Ranked matchmaking became more accurate and skill-based.

9. MLBB x Global Collaborations (2021–2024)

MLBB collaborated with world-famous franchises, making fans extremely excited.

10. MLBB’s Present Era (2024–2025): A Global Giant

Today, Mobile Legends stands among the top mobile esports titles globally.

Why MLBB Is Still Dominating

Fast-paced 5v5 gameplay
Updated heroes & meta
Regular patches
Massive esports prizes
Strong SEA community
High-quality animation content
Low device requirements

The game continues to grow with new:

Heroes
Skins
Story arcs
Maps
Events
Global tournaments

MLBB is no longer just a game—it’s a culture.

Conclusion: The Unstoppable Evolution of MLBB

From a small mobile MOBA in 2016 to a billion-dollar esports ecosystem, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has evolved dramatically. Constant updates, hero revamps, deep lore, global tournaments, and community love have shaped MLBB into the mobile gaming giant it is today.

The journey is far from over. With Project NEXT updates, new hero universes, improved graphics, and expanding esports leagues, MLBB will continue dominating the mobile gaming world for years to come.

If you love MLBB, you’re already part of this historic evolution.

MLBB FAQ Section –

Q1: What is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)?

A1: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is a 5v5 mobile MOBA game developed by Moonton Games in 2016. It is available for Android and iOS, featuring fast-paced battles and over 100+ heroes.

Q2: When was MLBB released?

A2: MLBB was officially released in July 2016. It quickly became popular in Southeast Asia due to its smooth performance on low-end devices and short match durations.

Q3: What is Project NEXT in MLBB?

A3: Project NEXT is MLBB’s major game overhaul launched in 2020. It included hero reworks, new animations, updated UI, map improvements, and better matchmaking to modernize the game.

Q4: What are some popular MLBB esports tournaments?

A4: Major MLBB tournaments include:

M1 World Championship (2019)
M2, M3, M4, M5 World Championships
Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) in multiple countries

These events helped establish MLBB as a global esports title.

Q5: How has MLBB evolved over the years?

A5: MLBB evolved through:

Launch and early growth (2016–2018)
Esports rise (2019–2020)
Project NEXT reworks (2020–2022)
Global collaborations and cinematic lore (2022–2024)
Modern HD graphics, hero expansions, and global dominance (2024–2025)

Q6: Which MLBB collaborations are most famous?

A6: MLBB has collaborated with international franchises such as:

Star Wars
Transformers
Sanrio (Hello Kitty)
Jujutsu Kaisen
Kung Fu Panda
King of Fighters (KOF)

These collaborations brought unique skins and attracted global players.

Q7: Why is MLBB so popular worldwide?

A7: MLBB’s popularity is due to:

Easy-to-learn, fast-paced gameplay
Regular updates and new heroes
Competitive esports ecosystem
Low-end device compatibility
Engaged global community

Q8: How many heroes does MLBB have now?

A8: As of 2025, MLBB features 100+ unique heroes across different classes: tank, fighter, assassin, mage, marksman, and support. Each hero has unique skills, lore, and abilities.

Q9: What is the future of MLBB?

A9: MLBB plans include:

Ultra HD graphics and smoother animations
Expanded cinematic universe and lore
Cross-platform play
Global esports expansion
More hero releases and collaborations

MLBB continues to dominate the mobile MOBA market.

Mobile Legends (MLBB) History & Evolution | 2016–2025 Complete Guide