KUALA LUMPUR: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) developer Moonton Games is hoping MLBB's inclusion in the Esports World Cup (EWC) this year will boost its appeal at the global level.
Ray Ng, Moonton Games head of esports ecosystem, believes the partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation will benefit both parties.
The MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) and MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI) will be part of the EWC roster in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
MSC will be held on July 1 to 14 while the dates for MWI has yet to be confirmed. EWC is expected to be held across a few months over the summer.
"It is a multi-year partnership which will give us the foundation to further grow our ecosystem," said Ray during a virtual press conference today.
"It is not a one-off (tournament), that is a promise to our community.
"MLBB is already quite popular in Southeast Asia, Asia and even some parts of Eastern Europe, but there is still a lack of education regarding mobile esports products among the Western audience.
"Our collaboration with EWC will allow us to introduce MLBB to the West and gain a wider audience.
"We can also help EWC expand their reach to the Eastern audience so it will be a mutually beneficial partnership."
MSC is offering a huge prize purse of US$3 million (RM14.2 million) which is the highest ever in the history of MLBB, dwarfing the US$900,000 (RM4.258 million) offered at last year's M5 World Championship.
MWI also offers a substantial prize purse of US$500,000 (RM2.365 million).