What's Driving Western Esports Giants to Partner with SEA MLBB Teams?

"Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is obviously one of the titles that always seem to be a big mystery to the European and North American audience, but if you look at the figures, you can’t deny how big of a game it is," said Danny Engels, Global Operations Director of Team Vitality, in an interview with AFK Gaming.

This statement amongst many released during the influx of western organizations into the world of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is indicative of the beginning of a new era for the game. 

Eight of the ten most-watched mobile esports tournaments in 2023 were from Mobile Legends, often outstripping the global reach of the likes of PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, and even Counter-Strike.

So it wasn’t really surprising to many of us that Western giants like Team Liquid, FNATIC, Team Vitality, and Cloud9 recently announced their entry into MLBB. What raised eyebrows, however, was the timing of their announcements.