Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Headlines Esports at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2025 in Thailand
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Headlines Esports at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2025 in Thailand
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) will be the headline esports event at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, showcasing the rising prominence and acceptance of esports in the global sporting community. The event is set to run from December 9-20, 2025, with key host cities being Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Chonburi, and Songkhla. This marks the fourth consecutive time MLBB will be featured as a medalled sport at the SEA Games, further cementing its status as the world’s most popular mobile esports title.
MLBB will feature both men’s and women’s medalled competitions, creating an inclusive and competitive platform for esports athletes across the Southeast Asian region. Historically, MLBB has achieved record-breaking viewership at the SEA Games, with the 32nd edition in Cambodia recording 1,462,871 peak concurrent viewers (PCV) for the men’s category and 1,367,274 PCV for the women’s category, according to Esports Charts. This substantial viewership underscores MLBB’s strong presence and growing popularity within the esports ecosystem.
Participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam—will compete in the 33rd SEA Games. The event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent, with athletes vying for the ultimate glory of representing their countries on an international stage.
MOONTON Games, the developer and publisher of MLBB Headlines Esports at the 33rd SEA games, has announced a partnership with the Thailand E-Sports Federation (TESF) to support the event and explore various opportunities for economic and tourism growth in the Kingdom. This collaboration includes marketing and promotional support, player development initiatives, community engagement activities, and the sharing of insights and analytics. By working together, MOONTON Games and TESF aim to create a thriving esports ecosystem in Thailand that benefits both players and the wider community.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, emphasized the company’s commitment to making the competitive esports ecosystem accessible and inclusive for aspiring esports athletes. “One of the core success factors for MLBB has been our deliberate strategy to make the competitive esports ecosystem accessible and inclusive to aspiring esports athletes. International sporting events like the SEA Games empower esports players, organizations, and federations by giving them a globally recognized competitive platform to bring glory to their respective nations. MLBB’s return as a medalled event is another positive step forward for esports, which has become increasingly accepted by the Thai and wider global sporting community as a competitive sport,” said Ray Ng.
The inclusion of MLBB as a medalled sport in the 33rd SEA Games and headlines esports at the games represents a significant milestone for the esports community in Thailand. The nation’s local players, particularly women, have shown tremendous growth in both quantity and competitive standard, highlighting the game’s widespread appeal and the burgeoning talent pool within the country. The collaboration between MOONTON Games and TESF builds on existing initiatives like the Asian Esports Games (AEG) in Bangkok later this year, further solidifying Thailand’s position as a leading esports hub in Southeast Asia.
Santi Lothong, President of TESF, expressed his gratitude for the support of MOONTON Games in helping to grow Thailand’s esports community. “Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s most mature markets for games and competitive esports, but there is still massive opportunity to grow the community further. The cooperation of game companies is a crucial part of this ambition. We are thankful for the support of MOONTON Games in helping us achieve this shared goal of creating platforms for aspiring talents to pursue their dreams of representing their countries on the international stage,” said Santi Lothong.
In addition to the competitive aspect, the partnership between MOONTON Games and TESF aims to unlock various economic and tourism opportunities for Thailand. By leveraging the popularity of MLBB and the excitement surrounding the SEA Games, both organizations hope to attract tourists and investors to the region, further boosting Thailand’s economy and global reputation as a premier destination for esports events.
The 33rd SEA Games will undoubtedly be a landmark event for the esports community in Southeast Asia, with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Headlines Esports at the Games and leading the charge. As the esports landscape continues to evolve and gain recognition as a legitimate competitive sport, the inclusion of MLBB in prestigious events like the SEA Games serves as a testament to the game’s impact and the potential for growth within the industry. With the support of MOONTON Games and the TESF, the future of esports in Thailand and the broader Southeast Asian region looks bright, promising exciting opportunities for players, fans, and stakeholders alike.
The 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia featured both men’s and women’s tournaments. The Philippines beat eight other teams to win gold in the men’s tournament, while Indonesia outplayed five other teams to win gold in the women’s tournament. The women’s tournament remains the most-watched women’s esports event of all time, according to Esports Charts.
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