Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), one of the world’s most popular mobile MOBAs, is about to undergo its most ambitious transformation yet. On 17 September 2025, Project NEXT 2025 will introduce an unprecedented gameplay overhaul with the highly anticipated Annual Map Change.
Every year, Project NEXT brings exciting updates designed to refresh the MLBB experience—through hero revamps, meta-balancing, and gameplay optimization.
But this year, MOONTON Games is taking things to a whole new level. With four brand-new battlefield variations, players will need to rethink their lane strategies, hero choices, and team coordination like never before.
Four New Maps: A Game-Changer for Strategy
The highlight of this year’s Project NEXT is the Annual Map Change, which adds four new maps that significantly alter how the Land of Dawn is played.
1. Dangerous Grass 🌿
Dense clusters of grass now cover key areas such as high ground turrets, the Mid Lane, and the Lord’s pit. This turns previously safe zones into ambush traps. Burst-damage heroes like Eudora and Saber can now lurk in the shadows and unleash deadly combos for instant kills. Vision control and map awareness will become more important than ever.
2. Broken Walls 🧱
This map introduces shortcuts across the battlefield, shaking up both offense and defense. Johnson and other mobility-focused heroes gain more opportunities to outmaneuver opponents, while less mobile heroes now have additional escape routes. Junglers will also appreciate the new backdoor entry into the Lord and Turtle pits, creating unpredictable steals and clutch plays.
3. Flying Cloud ☁️
Located near the base, the Flying Cloud is a brand-new platform that allows respawned heroes to hover for five seconds beyond the higher ground. This mechanic is perfect for rejoining team fights quickly, stopping a minion wave from reaching the base, or turning the tide of battle when the enemy thinks they’ve secured victory.
4. Expanding Rivers 🌊
The river current now flows more aggressively, extending into surrounding lanes and boosting hero movement speed. This benefits heroes without dashes, giving them faster gank rotations and escape options. It also creates opportunities for quicker team collapses and dynamic map control.
Together, these four map variations redefine MLBB’s gameplay meta, ensuring that every match feels fresh, unpredictable, and thrilling.
According to Arnold Xie, Lead Developer for MLBB at MOONTON Games:
“By reimagining the Land of Dawn, we aim to provide our players with the biggest in-game patch yet with new challenges to embrace. The latest patch with four different maps redefines how our players approach every battle, while ensuring that the game remains accessible to and enjoyed by everyone.”
This statement underscores MLBB’s mission to evolve while remaining fun for both veterans and newcomers.
Meet Obsidia: The New Marksman from the Shadow Abyss
No MLBB update is complete without a new hero—and this year, Obsidia takes the spotlight. Emerging from the dark depths of the Shadow Abyss, Obsidia is a fearsome marksman who once ruled the bottomless pit of the Land of Dawn.
With her arrival, players can expect new mechanics that bring unique depth to the marksman role. Whether she becomes a late-game hyper-carry or a versatile lane threat, Obsidia is set to shake up the competitive meta.
Hero Revamps: Power Rises from the Abyss
In addition to the new hero, Project NEXT 2025 delivers major revamps to fan-favorite Abyss heroes:
- Alice – Improved skill mechanics for more fluid combos.
- Dyrroth – Balanced reworks to enhance his sustainability in team fights.
- Thamuz – Adjustments to make him a stronger lane dominator with better late-game presence.
These updates ensure that older heroes remain viable in modern gameplay, giving both casual and competitive players new strategies to explore.
Why Project NEXT 2025 Matters
For MLBB’s massive global community, Project NEXT has always been more than just a patch—it’s a promise to keep the game evolving. This year’s Annual Map Change is a bold leap forward, shaking the foundation of the Land of Dawn with innovations never seen before.
With four new maps, a powerful new hero, and revamps for Abyss champions, Project NEXT 2025 ensures that MLBB remains at the forefront of mobile esports and continues to deliver the excitement fans crave.
Mark your calendars for 17 September 2025, when Project NEXT officially drops. Whether you’re a casual player or a competitive warrior, the battlefield will never be the same again. With Obsidia’s debut, revamped Abyss heroes, and the revolutionary Annual Map Change, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is gearing up for its most thrilling chapter yet.
The Land of Dawn has been reimagined—are you ready to master it?
- Mobile Legends Project NEXT 2025
- MLBB Annual Map Change
- Mobile Legends new hero Obsidia
- MLBB patch update September 2025
- MLBB Abyss hero revamp
- Land of Dawn map changes
