ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) have announced a partnership with MOONTON Games to build upon the competitive esports ecosystem for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Qualcomm Technologies Inc. have announced that the Snapdragon Pro Series Powered by Samsung Galaxy has partnered with MOONTON Games to expand the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) competitive ecosystem.
The partnership will introduce the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) to new regions within the Snapdragon Pro Series and provide a total of USD $780,000 in prize money.
We're expanding our MLBB x @ESLMobile ecosystem so Everyone Can Rise! AP, EUR&MENA and LATAM regions All-new SEA Women's league@Snapdragon Mobile Masters 2025AND... Sign-ups are open NOW at https://t.co/MXRvIalduj!#SnapdragonProSeries @MobileLegendsOL pic.twitter.com/CA9onk2DBH
— ESL Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (@ESLMLBB) March 11, 2024
This expanded ecosystem will introduce the MLBB competition to Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa, and will launch an all-new MLBB women’s league in Southeast Asia.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, outlines the company's plan for building MLBB esports:
With MLBB Esports having already begun taking root in the mainstream, our focus is on expanding our ecosystem to be even more inclusive and accessible. We’re delighted to team up with Snapdragon Pro Series again to offer the international MLBB community even more opportunities to watch, compete, and celebrate their passion for the game.
The partnership will also see the MLBB become a Mobile Masters title for Year 3 of the Snapdragon Pro Series, with up to USD $200,000 up for grabs for top international competitors.
The Mobile Masters is the global championship that will round out a year-long calendar of premier MLBB competitions, which also includes the M6 World Championship, the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC), and the MLBB Women’s Invitation (MWI) taking place at the Esports World Cup.
The Snapdragon Pro Series will also launch and operate an all-new MLBB women’s league in Asia-Pacific and Japan. With up to USD $30,000 in prizing distributed throughout the season, the league aims to not only broaden MLBB’s fanbase but also create new paths for women competitors.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was the most-watched mobile MOBA title in 2023, having generated more than 530 million hours watched. This was led by the M5 World Championship in July 2023, which saw over five million concurrent viewers. The game saw similar success as a Snapdragon Pro Series title, including its Season 3 SEA Mobile Challenge Finals, which saw a peak of 1 million fans tune into the broadcast.
In the announcement, MOONTON Games’ stated mission for 2024 is to "grow MLBB internationally, both through pre-existing esports programs and leaning on the Snapdragon Pro Series to expand its reach to new markets."
Vice President of Game Ecosystems, Mobile, at ESL FACEIT Group, Sam Braithwaite, added:
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has been a global leader in mobile competition. Alongside MOONTON Games and Qualcomm Technologies, we’re looking forward to delivering more ways to play MLBB through the Snapdragon Pro Series and our new inclusivity initiatives.
The MOONTON Games partnership arrives as EFG looks to expand its reach across mobile esports after having expanded the popularity of mobile esports since its creation.
The Snapdragon Pro Series MLBB competition begins in Asia Pacific on April 8, 2024, with circuits in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Latin America to follow.
For more information on the Snapdragon Pro Series, visit the official website, and follow the league on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
MobileMatters is in partnership with ESL FACEIT Group, the tournament organizers behind the Snapdragon Pro Series.