Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Malaysia today announced a bold shift towards an "enhanced franchise format".
The new format will adopt elements from the traditional franchise model used by global sports leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). However, the foremost ambition of the league will be to employ a unique model that takes the Malaysian esports industry to the next level by creating more opportunities for the ecosystem.The upcoming 16th season of MPL Malaysia will be the final season of Malaysia's pioneering esports league before it enters its next stage of growth—with an "enhanced franchise format".
Krystal Tan, Head of Business Development for Malaysia Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "Today marks a major milestone for MPL Malaysia. This move will strengthen our position as one of the nation's leading entertainment intellectual properties and create a more sustainable ecosystem for teams, players, and partners. By strategically investing in long-term stability, we are opening new pathways for talent development, commercial growth, and deeper fan engagement. This will ensure that MPL Malaysia continues to the standard for sports entertainment in Malaysia and to set the global benchmark for esports excellence."
More information about the "enhanced franchise format" will be released in future.
Blue-Chip Partnerships Signal Strength of MPL Malaysia as Entertainment Powerhouse
The announcement comes amid record-breaking growth for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Esports in Malaysia. MPL Malaysia consistently ranks among the world's most-watched esports leagues and holds the record for the most peak concurrent viewers with 870,000 last year, according to Esports Charts. In November and December 2024, Malaysia hosted the M6 World Championship, attracting global attention and solidifying the country's status as a premier esports destination.
Building on this momentum, MPL Malaysia unveiled a stellar roster of blue-chip partners. The multi-industry line-up highlights MPL Malaysia's evolution from a competitive gaming league to a full-fledged entertainment intellectual property, appealing to brands across technology, lifestyle, automotive, and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). These collaborations reflect not only the league's growing cultural relevance, but also its role in driving Malaysia's esports economy forward.
Season 16 of MPL Malaysia will commence on 13 September with the first week of the Regular Season. The Regular Season will see the nation's top 10 MLBB teams battle in a single round robin, Best-Of-Three (BO3), across six weeks (from 13 September to 19 October) at the Sri Putra Hall in Bukit Jalil
The top six teams from the Regular Season will advance to the Playoffs, where they will compete for two slots on the Main Stage of the M7 World Championship (M7)—MLBB Esports' flagship international esports tournament—in Indonesia next January.
The 10 competing teams are:
• Selangor Red Giants OG Esports (SRG)
• Homebois (HB)
• Untitled (UNT)
• AERO Esports (AERO)
• Team Vamos (VMS)
• Monster Vicious (MV)
• Todak (TDK)
• Team Rey (TR)
• CG Esports (CG)
• GamesMY Kelantan (GMXK)
Krystal said: "Malaysia's esports journey has been nothing short of inspiring. The historic performances of SRG at the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the Esports World Cup in 2024 and 2025 and International Esports Federation World Esports Championship 2024 have propelled Malaysia into the global spotlight. Their #PantangMengalah (meaning 'never give up' in Bahasa Malaysia) spirit has become a rallying cry for our community, symbolising the resilience and passion that defines Malaysian esports. We expect Season 16 to be more than a competition; it will be a showcase of how far our ecosystem has come and a celebration of the talent and commitment that continue to drive it forward. With international esports events like the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, International Esports Federation World Esports Championship, and M7 World Championship on the horizon, our athletes are ready to bring glory back to Malaysia—it's our time!"
More ronnotthedj.com updates? Like and follow us at @ronnotthedj on Twitter and Instagram, facebook.com/rntdblog and subscribe to Ron Not The DJ On Youtube
