The mobile esports industry has seen remarkable growth, achieving milestones that took traditional sports like football over a century to reach. In just ten years, mobile esports has become a significant player in the entertainment sector, with commercial achievements and substantial viewership.
The Rise of Mobile Gaming
According to Newzoo, the global mobile gaming market is now valued at an impressive $113.3 billion, attracting over 3 billion players worldwide. This segment contributes approximately 56% of the total revenue in the gaming industry, highlighting its dominance and rapid expansion.
Insights from Industry Leaders
During an executive discussion titled 'The Global Rise of Mobile Esports,' hosted by MOONTON Games and the Esports Foundation at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris, key industry figures shared their insights. The panel included Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, Morten Holst, Director of Game Partnerships at the Esports Foundation, and Danny Engels, Chief International Officer at Team Vitality.
Key Drivers of Growth
- Massive Audience Reach: The game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has established itself as a leading mobile title, breaking viewership records with over 2.8 million Peak Concurrent Viewers during the MSC at EWC 2026.
- Regional Ecosystem Development: The acquisition of the female esports team Bigetron Era by Team Vitality for $550,000 in 2024 was a significant move that yielded results, with the team winning back-to-back titles at MWI EWC 2026.
- Domestic Leagues Setting Global Standards: MOONTON Games has implemented a five-region blueprint through the MLBB Championship Tour (MCT), with Turkey set to host the upcoming M8 World Championship.
Market Insights and Future Prospects
Asia Tenggara remains the largest market for mobile gaming, accounting for 47% of the global share, with a robust annual growth rate of 9.9%. Indonesia stands out as a mature ecosystem, benefiting from a successful professional league franchise (MPL Indonesia), local operations, and public sector partnerships.
The shared belief among industry leaders is that global esports should be built from the grassroots level. The five-region strategy allows each area to develop according to its unique characteristics while providing a clear path to international competition.
This regional equity strategy has already yielded tangible results, as evidenced by Team Spirit from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region, which made history as the first team outside Southeast Asia to win a major international MLBB tournament, breaking the previous dominance held by teams from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Source: https://www.esports.id/read/industri-mobile-esports-berkembang-pesat-kejar-pertumbuhan-sepak-bola-dalam-satu-dekade-19282
