I still can’t believe we call them ‘MOBAs’
PC Gamer reflects on the enduring problem of the term ‘MOBA’ (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) as a genre descriptor in gaming media. The article, inspired by a post from Kieron Gillen, recalls a failed attempt from more than a decade ago to rename the genre to something more accurate. Former PC Gamer editor Chris Thursten led editorial efforts in 2014 to reform the terminology through his column, dedicating significant effort to fix this awkwardly-named genre. Despite these well-intentioned attempts, MOBA remains the standard terminology used across the industry, ironically describing both every game in the category and none specifically. The author humorously notes learning that gaming media has since adopted alternative terms like ‘imsim’ to describe these games, expressing regret at being out of the loop on this development. The piece highlights the broader challenge media outlets face in establishing gaming terminology and how even influential voices in gaming journalism can fail to popularize alternative naming conventions.