ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company, and Qualcomm Technologies Inc. today announced the Snapdragon Pro Series has partnered with MOONTON Games to expand the competitive ecosystem for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
The partnership will introduce MLBB – the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game worldwide – to new regions within the Snapdragon Pro Series, the world’s largest multi-title mobile esports league, and provide a total of USD $780,000 in prize money. The expanded open ecosystem will bring top-tier 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.
“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,” said Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem, MOONTON Games. “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.”
As part of the agreement, MLBB will 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. Mobile Masters is the global championship which will round out a year-long calendar of premier MLBB competitions, which also includes the M6 World Championship and the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) and MLBB Women's Invitational (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, the title’s most popular markets. 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 to pro for women competitors.
As the most-watched mobile esports title in 2023, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang generated more than 530 million hours watched last year, led by the M5 World Championship in December 2023, which saw over 5 million peak concurrent viewers. The game continues to experience success as a Snapdragon Pro Series title, including its Season 3 SEA Mobile Challenge Finals, which saw a peak concurrent viewership of 1 million fans tune in as ONIC took down Bigetron Alpha in the finals.
Building on a marquee 2023, MOONTON Games’ 2024 mission 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. The mobile esports league operates in seven regions and has over 110 million active monthly players around the world.
“Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has been a global leader in mobile competition,” said Sam Braithwaite, VP Game Ecosystems, Mobile, ESL FACEIT Group. “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 Snapdragon Pro Series has been a critical catalyst in the expansion of mobile esports worldwide. Since Year 1, the league has hosted 18 live mobile esports events and distributed over USD $4 million in prize money, not including its upcoming Mobile Masters event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 12-14. As a result, the Snapdragon Pro Series has generated over 21 million hours of watch time in Year 2 and facilitated nearly one billion matches from its Open and Challenge circuits across 10 titles.
The MOONTON Games partnership arrives as ESL FACEIT Group looks to expand its reach across mobile esports. The mobile gaming market, which is expected to reach up to USD $184 billion in 2024, is rapidly growing, especially in regions like the Middle East and Africa (4.7 percent year-over-year market growth) and Latin America (3.8 percent year-over-year growth). This international interest paired with the over 4.3 billion people with smartphone access makes mobile a key avenue to expand the global gaming audience.
Snapdragon Pro Series MLBB competition begins in Asia Pacific on April 8, with circuits in Europe, MENA, and Latin America to follow. For more information on the Snapdragon Pro Series visit www.snapdragonproseries.com
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