<P> League of Legends (abbreviated LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games for Microsoft Windows and macOS . The game follows a freemium model and is supported by microtransactions, and was inspired by the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne mod, Defense of the Ancients . </P> <P> In League of Legends, players assume the role of an unseen "summoner" that controls a "champion" with unique abilities and battle against a team of other players or computer - controlled champions . The goal is usually to destroy the opposing team's "nexus", a structure which lies at the heart of a base protected by defensive structures, although other distinct game modes exist as well . Each League of Legends match is discrete, with all champions starting off fairly weak but increasing in strength by accumulating items and experience over the course of the game . The champions and setting blend a variety of elements, including high fantasy, steampunk, folklore, and Lovecraftian horror . </P> <P> League of Legends was generally well received upon its release in 2009, and has since grown in popularity, with an active and expansive fanbase . By July 2012, League of Legends was the most played PC game in North America and Europe in terms of the number of hours played . As of January 2014, over 67 million people played League of Legends per month, 27 million per day, and over 7.5 million concurrently during peak hours . League has among the largest footprints of any game in streaming media communities on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.tv; it routinely ranks first in the most - watched hours . In September 2016 the company estimated that there are over 100 million active players each month . The game's popularity has led it to expand into merchandise, with toys, accessories, apparel, as well as tie - ins to other media through music videos, web series, documentaries, and books . </P> <P> League of Legends has an active and widespread competitive scene . In North America and Europe, Riot Games organizes the League Championship Series (LCS), located in Los Angeles and Berlin respectively, which consists of 10 professional teams in each continent . Similar regional competitions exist in China (LPL), South Korea (LCK), Taiwan (LMS), Southeast Asia (GPL), and various other regions . These regional competitions culminate with the annual World Championship . The 2016 World Championship had 43 million unique viewers and a total prize pool of over 6 million USD . </P>

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