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The Esports Advocate
The operator of Lunar Client, Moonsworth, has purchased the Minecraft: Java Edition launcher Badlion. The financial terms of this transaction were not disclosed.
Moonsworth, the operator of the popular Minecraft: Java Edition platform Lunar Client, has acquired the Minecraft launcher Badlion from the ESL FACEIT Group. The transaction, for which the financial terms remain undisclosed, consolidates two of the most significant third-party platforms within the Minecraft ecosystem. By integrating Badlion, Moonsworth aims to create a unified user experience that leverages the performance enhancements, customizable mods, and anti-cheat technologies associated with both platforms.
The acquisition is expected to expand the combined active user base to more than three million monthly players. This move aligns with Moonsworth’s broader growth strategy for 2025, which includes pursuing new brand partnerships across the retail and entertainment sectors to provide additional value to its community. The integration of these services reflects a continued focus on optimizing the player experience for Minecraft, a title that maintains a massive global footprint with over 300 million copies sold and approximately 170 million monthly active players.
Badlion, originally founded as a minigame server before pivoting to a client-focused model in 2018, was previously acquired by ESL Gaming in 2016. The transition of ownership from the ESL FACEIT Group to Moonsworth marks a shift in the platform's trajectory, moving away from its origins in esports-focused minigames toward a broader utility-based service for the general Minecraft player base. This consolidation represents a strategic effort to streamline the market for third-party Minecraft launchers and enhance the feature sets available to the game's extensive community.
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