PC Gamer recalls MOBA rename attempts, notes 'imsim' term

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

PC Gamer reporter Evan Lahti published a feature recalling past efforts to rename the MOBA genre and said he had recently seen the term "imsim" in use. Lahti wrote the piece after being inspired by a post from Kieron Gillen and referenced a 2014 column by former PC Gamer editor Chris Thursten that argued for a new label. The article characterized the 2014 attempt as a long-ago, unsuccessful editorial effort to fix the genre name. PC Gamer published the feature on 22 September 2026.

What happened: PC Gamer's Evan Lahti published a feature on 22 September 2026 recalling previous attempts to rename the MOBA genre and reporting that some people now use the term "imsim."
Why it matters: PC Gamer described the piece as part of an ongoing editorial conversation about dissatisfaction with the label "MOBA," citing past attempts to replace the term.
Context: Lahti said the story was prompted by a post from Kieron Gillen (timestamped 21 September 2026) and referenced former PC Gamer editor Chris Thursten's 2014 column that pushed for a new genre name.
What next: The article did not announce any formal industry rename or report any confirmed adoption of an alternative label; no further actions or outcomes were confirmed in the feature.

What changed

PC Gamer ran a feature by Evan Lahti on 22 September 2026 that revisited the publication's earlier effort to find a replacement for the term "MOBA." Lahti noted he had encountered the word "imsim" used by some people and linked that observation to renewed discussion about the genre label.

Timeline

2014: Lahti's feature referenced a column by then-editor Chris Thursten that advocated changing the MOBA label.
21 September 2026: Lahti said the piece was inspired by a post from Kieron Gillen.
22 September 2026: PC Gamer published Lahti's feature.

Limits

The feature recounts editorial history and reports on recent usage of an alternative term but does not present evidence of any formal rename, industry-wide adoption, or specific actions to change the label. The article itself is a commentary and compilation of prior attempts and current mentions.