Although the MLG logo went through a complete overhaul in 2013, its core visual element, the mask on the red and blue background, has been preserved.
Meaning and history
Major League Gaming was created in 2002 by Sundance DiGiovanni and Mike Sepso. In four years, it achieved the status of the first gaming league of its type in the US. Taking into consideration that MLG cited promoting eSports globally as its mission, it is only natural that it needed a recognizable and eye-catching logotype.
2002 – 2013
The original Major League Gaming logo was built around a rectangular with rounded corners. The rectangular was broken in two fields (blue and red) by a white facial mask. On the blue field, the letters “MLG” were placed, while the full name of the company in black could be seen below the rectangular.
2013 – 2017
Although the main elements of the logo have remained the same, the overall look has changed dramatically.
First, the “MLG” text has become the visual center of the logo, while the mask has shifted to the right. Instead of the rather big rectangular shape, it now appears inside a rhomboid with its bottom right corner rounded. The left part of the rhomboid is blue (two shades), while the right part is red (also two shades). The shades of blue and red have grown more sophisticated.
2017 – Today
The redesign of 2017 introduced a modern and stylish monochrome badge for MLG. It is a black inscription in a smooth yet strong and solid custom sans-serif font with the “M” executed in two arched lines and the tail of the letter “G” replaced by an arrow. The inner corner of the middle letter “L” was straight and sharp, while the outer one is rounded. This balance of shapes and black and white color palette adds progressiveness and style to the simple and minimalist badge of the company.
Font
The distinctive feature of the type used on the Major League Gaming logo is the combination of sharp and rounded angles. The letter “G” also looks unusual due to the arrow. On the whole, the font is a clear, sans serif italicized one.
Color
The first logotype featured white, black, blue, and red. The second version of the MLG logo is more complex in terms of the color palette. In addition to black and white, it comprises two shades of blue and red (neither of them similar to the blue and red colors of the original logo).