From Muhammad Zulkarnain Mohd Azman
JAKARTA, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- MOONTON Games has unveiled its long-term strategy to expand Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) esports beyond its traditional markets, with Malaysia Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL MY) set to enter a new era through a partnership-based league featuring eight teams.
As part of its global roadmap, MLBB esports will transition into a five-region structure beginning next year, covering Asia, Europe, Africa and America.
The framework is designed to unify international competition while enabling each region to grow through tailored infrastructure and structured talent development pathways.
MOONTON Games Chief Executive Officer Cloud Zhang said the initiative reflected an ambitious international vision to strengthen and elevate MLBB’s competitive ecosystem worldwide.
“Over the past ten years, MLBB has grown into one of the world’s top esports events and continues to reach new levels of player engagement and global impact.
“This framework unifies the global MLBB Esports ecosystem while empowering each region through tailored infrastructure and talent developmental pathways,” he said during his speech at the M7 World Championship Grand Finals here, today.
Meanwhile, Zhang also announced Turkiye as the host of the M8 World Championship in January 2027, marking the first time the flagship MLBB tournament will be held in Europe.
“The M8 Wild Card will be held in Thailand, and the M8 Grand Finals will take place in Istanbul,” he said.
In the meantime Moontoon also confirmed that MLBB had been selected as the first official title for the inaugural Esports Nation Cup (ENC) 2026 and would also make its debut at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Further strengthening interregional competition, MLBB unveiled the Championship Tour, a new intercontinental tournament to intensify cross-regional rivalry and boost global viewership engagement.
-- BERNAMA
