The nation's pioneering esports league unveiled an exciting partnership line-up of blue-chip brands—CelcomDigi, Infinix, Grab, Fairrie, 100PLUS, Yamaha, and CeraVe.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 9 September 2025—A new era
dawns for Malaysia esports! 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.
The partners comprise the
following:
• CelcomDigi
as
the Official League Presenter for Season 16 to 18—the first time the national
telco giant has sponsored an esports league.
￮
Chan
May Ling, Head of Brand & Marketing Services, CelcomDigi, said:
"We're proud to collaborate with MOONTON Games and MPL Malaysia for the
next three seasons in our shared mission to elevate the local esports
ecosystem. Through Arena CelcomDigi, we are deeply committed to nurturing
next-generation champions by providing them with the right platform to sharpen
their skills, gain exposure and connect with the wider esports community. It is
our goal to see them grow, thrive, and ultimately compete on the global stage,
showcasing Malaysia's esports potential to the world."
• Infinix
returns
with an expanded partnership until Season 18, with the Infinix GT 30 Pro
announced as the Official Gaming Smartphone for Season 16. Infinix had previously inked a one-year partnership
with the league until Season 16.
￮
Tommy
Xiong, Country Manager of Infinix Malaysia, said: "Our mission
at Infinix goes beyond building great devices. By working with MPL Malaysia
through Season 18, we aim to give young players the opportunity to dream bigger
and fans the chance to experience esports at a higher level. The GT 30 Pro is
just the beginning of how we want to empower Malaysia's esports community and
help shape its future together."
• Yamaha revs up Seasons 16 and 17 as the Official Motorcycle Partner, marking the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer's global debut in esports. The first of its kind for the Malaysian motorcycle industry, this collaboration will herald the launch of a highly anticipated new model during the opening week of MPL Malaysia on 13 September.
• Grab
Malaysia as the Official Food Delivery Partner for Season 16.
￮
Ko
Li Ping, Head of Marketing, Grab Malaysia, said: "Grab
Malaysia is excited to be part of the MPL Malaysia community, where passion for
gaming and esports brings people together. With GrabFood For One, we're proud
to support by delivering reliable service and ensuring that fans and players alike
can enjoy great meals effortlessly with just a few taps. Whether you're
cheering for your favourite team or taking a break from the game, we're here to
make every moment more meaningful and accessible."
• Fairrie
returns
as the Official Rewards Partner for Season 16.
• 100PLUS
returns
as the Official Isotonic Drink for Season 16.
• CeraVe
as
Strategic Partner for Season 16.
• Playaz
as
Strategic Partner for Season 16.
MPL Malaysia is supported
by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Esports Integrated (ESI), Rakan
Muda, the Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF), and Persatuan Stadium Malaysia
(PSM).
Season 16: What You Need To Know
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 (travel guide to MPL Malaysia Season 16 Regular Season
venue).
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!"
All media resources (e.g.,
match schedule and narratives, team names and media day photos, match photos
etc.) may be accessed in the MPL Malaysia Season 16 Media Assets Google Sheet.
To keep up
with the latest MPL Malaysia updates, follow MPL Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube.
Purchase
match tickets on the Official Website.
###
About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games
worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With
over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the
award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With
an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available
in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.
About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports
Established in 2017,
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue
their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within
the international esports ecosystem. MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple
leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and
Latin America; MPL is the first esports event series to surpass 1 billion hours
of watch time globally.
About MOONTON Games
Established in 2014,
MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development,
publication, and esports. With more than 1,600 employees worldwide, the company
operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Latin
America, and China. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile
games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and
esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile
Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer
online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide. For more information, visit https://en.moonton.com.
For media queries or interview
requests, please contact:
Marcus Lim
Overseas PR Lead at MOONTON Games
Mobile: +65 9069 2651
Email: marcuslim@moonton.com
