Alan-1’s second Major League eSports World Championship has brought competitive arcade gaming back to centre stage in Utah, with cash prizes and two arcade titles deciding the winner.
What is MLeS?
Major League eSports, or MLeS, is a free app created by MLeS and Alan-1. It provides video games with a connected competitive layer similar in concept to Stern Pinball’s Insider Connected system.
Players can use the app to record scores, unlock achievements, enter tournaments and receive notifications when another player beats one of their results. A venue-finder feature is also planned. The system is intended to encourage players to visit arcades and return regularly, an approach that helped Asteroids Recharged receive first place in the Games & Devices category at last year’s IAAPA Brass Ring Awards.
At present, MLeS supports Avian Knights and Asteroids Recharged Arcade, with further games expected to join soon.
The platform also records League Points. Players earn points by competing in registered tournaments throughout an MLeS season, which runs from 1 January to 31 December each year.
The World Championship field is selected from the eight highest-ranked MLeS players, based on the League Points they collected during the previous calendar year. The first championship was played on Avian Knights for Atari VCS because an arcade title was not yet available. The current event has expanded to include both supported arcade games.
The 2024–2025 MLeS World Championship
The championship features eight competitors playing the arcade editions of Avian Knights and Asteroids Recharged Arcade, rather than console versions. Thousands of dollars in cash prizes are available, adding a significant reward to the season-long points race.
Last year’s champion, Retroman21, returned to defend the title. The event was expected to conclude by 6pm Mountain Standard Time, although the tournament ultimately ran longer than planned.
The championship was streamed through Alan-1’s Twitch channel. For Australian viewers, the Utah schedule placed the final stages on the following day, making the broadcast timing worth checking before tuning in.
The competition eventually concluded with divingbuddy taking the win.
A new Alan-1 game teased
The tournament also provided an early look at one of Alan-1’s upcoming major releases. The developer indicated that more than one new game is in development, with the championship offering a preview of what is next.
For arcade operators and competitive players, MLeS demonstrates how connected scoring, achievements and organised tournaments can give modern cabinets a stronger community focus. Readers exploring the wider arcade scene can also browse RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog, compare arcade machines or consider a full-size upright arcade for home play.
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