Super Evil Megacorp has been on a roll with its mobile game Vainglory, and it has no plans on stopping. During a professional showcase tournament, the Invitational Pre-Season, the developers released a “2017 Roadmap” video about the MOBA, with some major goals and changes.

The biggest and most exciting announcement for fans? A 5v5 mode, as part of a shift towards “More. Friggin. Maps,” as CCO Stephan “CaptainNeato” Sherman put it, citing player demands.

“The tension and adrenaline of enemies lurking around every corner is the signature Vainglory experience of 3v3,” said Sherman, “but we also want Vainglory to offer the large team and map size of a 5v5 so players can experience massive battles and sprawling battlefields.”

(image via SEMC official site)

Right now, Vainglory only features its 3v3 format, with a single lane down the middle and a large jungle area underneath, with the latter split by an objective enemy and a common item shop. Typically, one player occupies each region, and a third chooses to go either way, depending on the draft: either a “support” or “harass” role in lane, or farming alongside the jungle player.

“We want Vainglory to offer the large team and map size of a 5v5 so players can experience massive battles and sprawling battlefields.”

The proposal could bring Vainglory’s format, objectives and complexity up to par with other well-known PC MOBAs such as Dota 2, League of Legends and Heroes of the Storm, which each feature a five-player format. It’s not known how Vainglory will form its map around the 5v5 structure, though other MOBAs often feature three lanes and a jungle for each team.

Unfortunately, Sherman says they are unsure if the map will be complete in the calendar year, and they aren’t sure how the gameplay mode will compare to the current experience.

More to come, more to experience

For those less patient about the shift towards the classic MOBA format, there is still more specific news that may excite fans.

A “double-ban structure” has been announced for draft modes, the format in which professional classic matches are played. The format will be shifted into a ban-pick-ban-pick-pick order, instead of the current ban-ban-pick-pick-pick one. This change will be tested in pro matches before being released in public matches.

The official splash art for the Star Queen Celeste Tier 3 skin, by “Noxiihunter” on DeviantArt.

At the moment, there are several game modes available on the current map, including a well-received, objective-focused “Blitz” mode that lasts five minutes in-game, plus “Battle Royale,” their all-random all-mid equivalent. Another new map and mode proposed and in the works is a set of “Brawl” modes (with Sherman emphasizing the plural), including new talents and upgrades to heroes exclusive to these modes.

It seems SEMC’s goal is to keep both casual and dedicated classic players glued to their phones.

“Our work in Brawl modes in no way indicates a departure from the classic Vainglory experiences you’ve come to love,” Sherman explains in the video. “In fact, by letting our more casually-oriented players have fun in Brawl modes, we free ourselves up to evolve the experience in standard Vainglory in new and interesting ways.”

“More. Friggin. Maps.” — Stephan “CaptainNeato” Sherman, Chief Creative Officer of Super Evil Megacorp

Sherman says the Brawl modes are estimated to be released in the first half of 2017.

The presentation emphasizes their continued shift towards a “smoother” experience, not only talking about communications changes, but also announcing server expansions and displaying animated character taunts alongside the announcement. SEMC has been tweaking this experience for a while, with changes in Guild and Dailies having arrived with their 7.00 release.

They also mention that they are planning new heroes plus more map and item changes, though they did not give specifics on such plans. However, during the final showcase match, one of the developers pulled a hero in the works, Grump Jaw, into the fray, giving fans a preview of what’s to come.

Growth and glory

These changes come as Vainglory continues to rapidly mature, especially in its competitive scene.

The 2017 Roadmap segment itself was aired during the Invitational Pre-season tournament, a showcase event in which several new teams play against veteran squads. Rogue took down NRG in the live LAN finals to claim the victory.

(image via SEMC official site)

According to the video, Vainglory’s player base tripled in 2017, and their esports audience increased by “a factor of ten.” In November, Vainglory held their first Worlds tournament, which featured a healthy variety of international teams.

SEMC announced a franchising program in late 2016, though it’s not known if any teams have invested in this system yet. The program does not guarantee spots in the game’s official leagues; however, it does offer shared revenue, which could make it a viable option for larger esports orgs looking into the game.

“[T]here’s a bright future for mobile based esports”

Recently, five more professional, established and well-known esports organization acquired Vainglory squads, citing SEMC’s dedication to their player base and the simmering potential of mobile esports.

“Vainglory caught our attention due to its explosive growth and Super Evil Megacorp’s dedication to building a thriving competitive ecosystem,” Echo Fox owner Rick Fox explained in a statement regarding their new team.

“We believe there’s a bright future for mobile based esports which signals a shift from the PC-dominated titles until now,” said Patrik Sättermon, Chief Gaming Officer of Fnatic, upon their announcement.

Vainglory’s developers cite a $200 fan-organized tournament as the inspiration for pursuing its larger esports scene. It currently has partnerships with Twitch and Collegiate Star League.