This edition's highlights:

• Vice President of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, met with MOONTON Games, reaffirming government support for the growth of the national esports ecosystem.

• OPPO x 2026 Golden Month campaign powers play across screen and stage, bringing the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) experience to life.

• MLBB will return to the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC). In 2025, the title made history after the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) emerged as the event's first tournament to surpass 3 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV).

• Malaysia doubles down on its esports ambitions as the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) transitions to a Partnership Program model.

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Top News 📰

Indonesia backs esports growth as Vice President meets MOONTON Games delegation 🇮🇩

Indonesia continues to reinforce its commitment to the esports industry. On 2 March, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka received representatives from MOONTON Games alongside Indonesian esports athletes at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, reaffirming government support for the growth of the national esports ecosystem and the development of digital talent. Discussions focused on strengthening the esports ecosystem through talent development, industry collaboration, and pathways for aspiring professional gamers.

Indonesia remains one of the world's most vibrant esports markets, with MLBB playing a central role in its landscape. In January 2026, Jakarta hosted the M7 World Championship (M7), where the Grand Finals recorded over 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), according to Esports Charts. The milestone made the tournament the most-watched mobile esports event in history.

Cherry Xia, Vice President and Head of Publishing and Esports at MOONTON Games, welcomed the continued support for the industry. She said: "The Vice President shared that he is grateful and excited to see how MLBB and the gaming industry are growing very well in Indonesia. He also expressed his hope that we can have more collaborations in the future and see programs not only in Jakarta, but expanding to other regions across Indonesia. MOONTON Games has been in the Indonesian market for over 10 years, and this year we will celebrate MLBB's 10th anniversary. We hope we can continue to grow and collaborate with local partners more deeply in the future. For us, we see ourselves as more than a game company. We feel we have a responsibility to help grow the gaming industry and the internet industry in Indonesia."

As esports continues to gain institutional recognition, partnerships between government bodies and industry leaders are playing a growing role in shaping the next generation of digital athletes.

MLBB returns to Esports World Cup with expanded competitive pathways 🌍

MLBB will return to EWC for the third consecutive year with an expanded competitive structure and broader regional participation. The title will headline two flagship tournaments at the event—the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) and the MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI).

This year's tournaments will feature a combined prize pool of US$3,500,000 and a wider international qualification system. The MSC will bring together 16 of the world's top teams, alongside the largest Wild Card stage to date with 10 participating teams. The Wild Card welcomes Western Europe and India for the first time, broadening the tournament's international footprint. The expanded format reflects MLBB's five-region globalization strategy, spanning Southeast Asia (SEA), the Americas (AMER), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), East Asia (EA), and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). MWI also returns with 16 teams and its inaugural Western Europe qualifier, providing women across the world with a platform to compete at the highest level.

Last year, MLBB emerged as the most-watched title at the EWC, recording over 54 million Hours Watched (HW), according to Esports Charts. MSC at EWC 25 peaked at 3.06 million PCV to become the event's most-watched tournament—underscoring MLBB's global reach.

Want in on the MLBB Esports action? Get in touch with us today!

Partnership Spotlight 🤝

OPPO x MLBB Golden Month powers play across screen and stage📱⚡

What does a gaming campaign look like when it's built around the phone in your hand? For MLBB's Golden Month, the experience started inside the game—and extended beyond it.

At the centre of the campaign was a global partnership with smartphone brand OPPO to deliver 10,000 smartphones to MLBB players worldwide. The giveaway was seamlessly woven into the game, placing OPPO alongside the moments where players were already engaging and making the brand feel like a natural extension of the gameplay journey. Following the success of Golden Month 2025, where the smartphone giveaway first spanned four markets, this year's campaign expanded its reach to 11 countries and regions (Argentina, Bolivia, EECA, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Thailand, Peru, and the Philippines). From there, the Golden Month experience scaled across regions, extending the OPPO partnership into more markets and communities.

Joe Jiang, Game Publishing Marketing Director at MOONTON Games, said, "Golden Month reflects the spirit of giving and generosity that defines this year's campaign. As a mobile-first game, MLBB is designed to be accessible anytime and anywhere, and initiatives like this help us further bring the experience to more players globally. As our community continues to grow, we remain focused on creating meaningful moments of celebration, gameplay, and connection for players worldwide."

The partnership doesn't just stop at gameplay—it levels up into real-world competition through the OPPO Hyper Legend Cup x MLBB Campus Series (MCS). Anchored in MLBB's established esports ecosystem, the tournament unites campus players from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, while placing OPPO at the heart of developing the next generation of esports talent. Through the campaign, OPPO is integrated into the moments that matter most—where players log in, compete, and take their first steps beyond casual play.

Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, said, "The OPPO Hyper Legend Cup x MLBB Campus Series represents our shared vision of creating a sustainable esports ecosystem in Southeast Asia. As part of the Golden Month celebration, this collaboration with OPPO reflects our commitment to bringing meaningful gaming experiences to communities while creating competitive pathways for university students and young talents to showcase their skills on a regional stage. By combining OPPO's innovation with MLBB's thriving esports community, we hope to empower the next generation of players to create their own golden moments and inspire campus communities across the region."

Golden Month 2026 extended its impact through market-led localization, shaping each activation around what resonates locally. In Indonesia, MLBB launched its largest Ramadan initiative yet by contributing IDR258,839,234 (~US$15,200) in donations. The funds went to supporting children battling cancer and underprivileged youth through partnerships with three cancer foundations and one Jakarta-based orphanage. In Malaysia, the "Kongsi Rezeki" (Blessing Sharing) livestream series brought the community into the experience with real-time giveaways, rewards, and interactive moments. In Türkiye, Golden Month delivered the nation's largest gaming giveaway to date, setting a strong milestone for community engagement ahead of the M8 World Championship in Istanbul. In the Philippines, the campaign was rooted in local internet culture, using telenovela-style storytelling with popular creators to deepen community connection.

From matches on a phone to moments on stage, Golden Month 2026 brings the MLBB experience to life across every touchpoint. By pairing a global campaign with local flavour, MLBB unites players across the world, turning a single campaign into a shared celebration that extends the game beyond the screen.

Want in on the action? Get in touch with us today!

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Feature Stories 📰

Malaysia doubles down esports ambitions with MPL Malaysia Season 17 kickoff 🇲🇾

At the "MLBB Esports Malaysia 2026: MY Time, MY Era", MOONTON Games unveiled a slate of initiatives spanning cross-border partnerships, talent development, and ecosystem investment—reinforcing Malaysia's goal of becoming a leading global esports hub by 2030. A key highlight was a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF) and the Singapore Esports Association (SGEA), opening up cross-border pathways for talent development.

MPL Malaysia also revealed the full roster of eight teams under its new Partnership Program, marking a major step toward a more structured and sustainable professional ecosystem. The program is designed to provide long-term stability for teams while creating clearer pathways for players, coaches, and content creators to grow within the industry. Backed by partners including CelcomDigi, Media Prima, and Tonton, Season 17 reflects growing confidence from both endemic and non-endemic brands in the country's esports ecosystem.

Beyond competition, MOONTON Games continues to invest in grassroots and education initiatives. The Guru Juara MOONTON Masterclass will expand to Kuala Lumpur in 2026, equipping educators with tools to guide students in structured and responsible gaming. This builds on strong momentum from its Selangor pilot, where a majority of participating schools hosted esports activities for the first time.

As Malaysia strengthens its position in Southeast Asia's gaming and esports landscape, MPL Malaysia continues to play a central role in shaping the next generation of players and digital talent.

Upcoming events 🗓️

• March to July: MLBB Professional League (MPL) circuit (First half)

• July to August: MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) and MLBB Women Invitational (MWI)

• August to December: MLBB Professional League (MPL) circuit (Second half)

• September to October: 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

• November: Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026

• December: MLBB Championship Tour

• Early 2027: M8 World Championship

Get in touch to explore partnership opportunities

We're hiring – apply to be part of our dynamic team!

MOONTON Games is always on the lookout for driven and skilled individuals. Embark on a journey within our expanding family, and let's explore the future of gaming together!

Key openings below:

• Regional Marketing Manager, Thailand

• Senior Esports Business Development Manager, Malaysia

• Esports Production & Logistics Manager, Philippines

• Sr. Marketing and Business Development Manager, Philippines

• League Operation Manager, Indonesia

📧 Interested in getting in touch? Here's how to work with us:

Whether you're curious about how we can work with each other or our plans down the line, we'd love to hear from you!

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