Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and the Esports World Cup (EWC) were hailed as catalysts for national development by government leaders from Malaysia and the Philippines who spoke at a press conference held at EWC 25 on Friday, 1 August, 2025.
Organised jointly by Moonton Games and EWC, the media event featured YB Adam Adli, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer for the Esports World Cup Foundation, and Atty. Erose Marlon C. Laeno, Chief Legal Officer for the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) of the Philippines.
They collectively highlighted esports’ escalating role in empowering youth, expanding the digital economy, and fostering social inclusion across Southeast Asia.
Mobile Legends is a cornerstone of Malaysian policy
YB Adam Adli, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, credited MLBB with significantly shaping the country’s esports environment and its national development objectives. He explained that global governments, Malaysia included, continue to champion MLBB because of its substantial contribution to youth development.
The game is viewed as more than just entertainment — it has accelerated digital economic growth, boosted youth participation, and provided a platform to understand the professional esports ecosystem.
In Malaysia, he noted, the government has integrated the game into school-level national programmes to leverage its immense popularity, ensuring younger generations can develop skills not just as players, but as experts in supporting fields such as broadcasting, coaching, and sports nutrition.
The Malaysian MLBB scene has seen impressive recent expansion, most notably with the Selangor Red Giants (SRG). SRG made history by capturing Malaysia’s first international MLBB title at the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2024, securing a major share of the US$3 million prize pool.
A key factor in their success has been the adoption of infrastructure and standards—like nutrition and physical conditioning—from the esteemed Selangor Football Club. Furthermore, SRG’s collaboration earlier this year with the global esports giant, OG Esports, to form SRG.OG, marked a pivotal moment for international partnership in Malaysian esports.
YB Adam concluded that the game’s broad accessibility and appeal have fortified the national agenda through economic value, job creation, and empowered youth.
The Minister also provided an update on the government’s MYR 18 million (approximately US$4.2 million) E-Stadium project, intended to serve as a central hub for major local and international esports events and community engagement. He anticipates the stadium will be operational by next year, which will significantly enhance both domestic and global competitions.
How The Philippines evolved from gaming to esports nation
Echoing these positive sentiments, Attorney Erose Marlon C. Laeno of the GAB in the Philippines stressed the potential her organization and the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) identified in esports as a viable career path for young people.
She affirmed that these achievements spurred a boom in the domestic industry, leading the government, as far back as 2017, to officially recognize esports as a professional sport. This formal recognition resulted in measures to govern esports with the same diligence applied to traditional athletics, a move that has considerably improved the perception of esports among both youth and the wider public, highlighting its valuable contribution to youth development.
Official status has legitimized the field in the Philippines, propelling the nation to MLBB esports powerhouse status, evidenced by its securing five of the six M Series championship titles. MLBB’s role in creating these pathways underscores its significant contribution to national growth, both socially and economically.
Building global talent: the MLBB-EWC Model
Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation, emphasized the critical need for a structured talent development pipeline. With crucial support from publishers like Moonton Games, Saudi Arabia has rolled out collegiate leagues aimed at preparing players for regional and global tournaments.
He stated that publisher cooperation allows them to effectively monitor and cultivate local talent, integrating players into the remarkable ecosystem Moonton has established. Understanding a publisher’s vision and strategy empowers both parties, and he views the current working relationship with Moonton Games as a gold standard for any entity seeking to partner with the EWC and other regulators globally to improve esports products and experiences.
Faisal also held up the MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI) as a prime example of Moonton’s commitment to inclusion and sustainable esports growth. The MWI, held during EWC 25, was the largest women’s tournament at the world’s most comprehensive multi-title esports event. Its US$500,000 prize pool, among the largest in women’s esports, reinforces the commitment of MLBB and EWC to inclusivity and positioning esports as a credible professional path for women.
According to Esports Charts, the MWI at EWC 25 became the most-viewed edition to date, reflecting soaring interest in women’s esports. The tournament this year also saw the debut of Saudi Arabia’s first women’s esports athletes at the EWC—Lyrx, Lunar, and Livin from Twisted Minds Orchid—confirming MWI’s status as a transformative main event, not a peripheral story.
Atty. Erose concluded by noting the evident power of esports to transform lives, visible in the activities taking place at the EWC. Beyond the clear financial opportunities in the industry, she believes esports actively encourages young people to aspire and pursue alternative, non-traditional career paths.
