Here's something that might surprise you: Alden Richards is an online game addict.
The Pambansang Bae is currently into the online game Mobile Legends Bang Bang.
In fact, Alden made an appearance at the Mobile Legends' first street league dubbed as Mobile Legends Bang Bang Liga, held at Barangay 159 Multi-PUrpose Plaza in Malibay, Pasay City, on November 17.
The actor-TV host went to the event straight from Eat Bulaga!, not as a special guest, but as an online gaming enthusiast.
Suffice to say that other participants of the event were shocked.
Even the event organizer didn't expect Alden would show up.
While Alden has been posting about Mobile Legends on his social media accounts, to see him participate in an online gaming event was something quite unexpected.
Alden's interview during the event was watched by this writer on Facebook live.
"Grabe sobra! I started playing when the game started here in the Philippines," Alden said.
Mobile Legends started in the Philippines in 2016.
He went on, “I’m so excited to be here. Galing pa ako ng Broadway, bini-beat ko yung traffic para umabot ako kasi last round na raw.”
When asked about the character he uses when playing the game, he answered, “My usual default hero is Kagura. Pero madalas kapag rank game, Leomord talaga.”
While Alden wasn't able to participate as a player, he sat down as a shoutcaster together with Zeus Collins and online gamer Billy Alfonso aka Z4PNU.
The actor was visibly thrilled as seen during the event's Facebook live streaming.
Alden also finally met his teammates, and treated them to dinner after the event.
According to the Mobile Legends' Facebook page, this multi-player online battle arena (MOBA) game was designed for mobile phones.
"Two opposing teams fight to reach and destroy the enemy's base, while defending their own base for control of a path—the three "lanes" known as "top", "middle" and "bottom"—which connects the bases.
"In each team, there are five players who each control an avatar, known as a 'hero,' from their own device. Weaker computer-controlled characters, called 'minions,' spawn at team bases and follow the three lanes to the opposite team's base, fighting enemies and turrets."