From historic Southeast Asian (SEA) Games moments to upcoming M7 milestones, learn how MOONTON Games is shaping the future of gaming and esports.
At the 33rd SEA Games, MOONTON Games celebrated a series of milestones headlined by Magic Chess: Go Go (MCGG) making its debut as the event's first Auto Chess title. On the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) stage, Team Malaysia secured its first-ever women's gold medal, while the Philippines continued its dominance with a fourth consecutive men's MLBB title. Building on this momentum, the MLBB Esports spotlight will now shift to Jakarta, where the M7 World Championship (M7) is set to bring the city to life. The tournament has unveiled its first-ever Opening Ceremony, a citywide takeover designed to elevate Indonesia on the global esports stage. At the same time, MCGG has introduced its first collaboration, partnering with THE KING OF FIGHTERS (KOF).
Top News
33rd SEA Games: MCGG celebrates debut, MLBB crowns historic champions
MCGG made history at the 33rd SEA Games, making its debut as the first mobile Auto Chess title to be featured at the Games. Its inclusion marked a breakthrough moment for strategy esports at one of the region's most prestigious multi-sport events. Featuring representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, the MCGG demonstration match placed strategic depth and decision-making at the forefront of competition.
MCGG's inclusion reflects MOONTON Games' commitment to broadening access to esports at the highest level. With its single-player format and accessible gameplay, the title creates opportunities for everyone to emerge a champion. As esports continues to take its place alongside traditional sports, MCGG's SEA Games debut marks an strategic step forward in shaping a more open and diverse competitive landscape. Malaysia's Muhamad Arif Bin Baharun and Fazley Chong emerged on top, securing first place in the demonstration event.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystems at MOONTON Games, added: "We're incredibly proud that MCGG has earned its place on a prestigious stage like the SEA Games. It's amazing that our players will share the spotlight alongside some of the most competitive sporting athletes in the region. For us, MCGG has always been more than just a game. It's about using the game to build a connected ecosystem that gives aspiring champions a chance to shine. This is only the beginning, and I'm excited for what's ahead as we continue working with regional and national partners to grow MCGG into a global esports platform."
MLBB has wrapped up its fourth consecutive run as an official medaled event at the 33rd SEA Games, delivering another tournament colored with historic moments. The biggest headline came from the women's category, where Malaysia captured its first-ever MLBB SEA Games gold. Writing a new chapter for both the nation and the game, the team's win meant far more than the final score. Introduced just one edition ago, the Women's category has emerged into a cornerstone of the SEA Games esports program. For these female players, every match serves as a platform for them to carry their nation's pride and show the world what women in esports can achieve. The tournament's continued presence at the event reflects MOONTON Games' commitment to building an inclusive and empowering esports ecosystem.
In the Men's category, the Philippines secured their fourth consecutive SEA Games gold medal. The team completed a flawless campaign, capping off the tournament without dropping a single series along the way. Jungler Karl Gabriel "PHI_Nepomuceno" Nepomuceno also etched his name into the history books as the second two-time SEA Games medalist in MLBB history.
First M Series Opening Ceremony to transform Indonesia into living esports stage
The M7 is set to place Indonesia at the forefront of global esports! Returning to the home ground of MLBB Esports, the tournament will highlight the nation's vibrant culture while celebrating the flagship tournament of 2024's most popular mobile esports title, according to Esports Charts.
The M7 Opening Ceremony will be the first in M Series history, inspired by the grandeur of major sporting events. Fans will journey through Jakarta's landmarks, experience performances and cinematic storytelling, and see esports legends come together on one stage. Scheduled for 9 January, the ceremony will celebrate the game and the nation by blending the passion of MLBB Esports with Indonesia's rich cultural heritage.
Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "The M7 Opening Ceremony will celebrate MLBB Esports' rise as an integral part of Indonesia's sporting landscape. Over the past five seasons, MLBB Professional League (MPL) Indonesia has drawn more than 100 million watch hours each season, rivalling the popularity of well-loved sports like football and badminton. With its growing influence, the Opening Ceremony will highlight MLBB Esports' journey as a national sporting phenomenon by honoring its past and present, while looking to its future. Through the stories of teams, players, and fans, we also hope to showcase Indonesia's traditions and give the world a glimpse of the nation's vibrant gaming and esports culture."
Riezha Haryo Wiguna, Member of the Competition Division at the Indonesian Esports Central Board, said: "The M Series has become one of the most influential mobile esports tournaments around the world. Indonesia is privileged to host this extraordinary event once again... To MOONTON [Games] your commitment to building a sustainable esports ecosystem in Indonesia deserves the highest appreciation. Together with PBESI, [we] have opened pathways for young talent in local communities and brought global attention to our nation. The M7 is not just a competition. [The tagline], Let the World See Us, means it's a celebration of legacy, community, and the future of the esports industry. Welcome to Indonesia, we hope you feel the warmth of our culture, the strength of our ecosystem, and the patience that makes Indonesia a global esports powerhouse. May the M7 World championship inspire new champions, ignite new stories, and show the world why Indonesia continues to be the home of esports excellence."
Global brands level up the MLBB celebration
The M Series continues to strengthen its global leadership through expansive partnerships. Visa, realme, 1Play, Fairrie, and Secretlab will be joining MOONTON Games to bring fans closer to the M7 action. The partnerships will introduce premium fan experiences, collectibles, lifestyle activations. These collaborations highlight MLBB Esports' commercial appeal while giving fans new ways to celebrate the tournament's legacy and enjoy world-class esports moments.
According to Esports Charts, MLBB was crowned 2024's most popular mobile esports title with over 475 million Hours Watched (HW). The year capped off with the M6 amassing over 85 million HW to become the most-watched in M Series history. This momentum continued into 2025, with MLBB emerging as the most popular title in Esports World Cup (EWC) history. Headlining the world's largest multi-title esports event, the Mid Season Cup (MSC) at EWC 25 became the event's first tournament to surpass 3 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV).
Crossover Spotlight
MCGG celebrates first collaboration featuring THE KING OF FIGHTERS
MCGG launched its fourth season on 19 November with THE KING OF FIGHTERS (KOF) headlining the action. This marked the game's first collaboration, bringing the fighter universe to the chessboard with eight themed commander skins, two new synergies, and a KOF-inspired chessboard skin.
Gao "Skyhook" Chong, MCGG Producer at MOONTON Games, said: "Working with KOF is a huge step for MCGG, and we're especially excited since its our first collaboration. Bringing this iconic franchise into our universe allows us explore new ways to merge strategy and combat while offering players more depth and variety in how they approach the game. This is not just a crossover—it's an expansion of our IP and a showcase of how our game can grow beyond auto chess while keeping strategic gameplay at its core. We're excited to see how players from both worlds adapt, compete, and make the MCGG battlefield their own!"
Beyond engaging players, this crossover demonstrates MCGG's strength as a platform for strategic partnerships. The KOF collaboration marks a strong opening move for future crossovers, highlighting how the game delivers campaigns that engage players worldwide.
Extending beyond the digital, MCGG also unveiled the upcoming GO1 World Championship (GO1)—the inaugural edition of the title's annual tournament. The GO1 will take place alongside the M7 and marks the game's first offline global championship. This celebrates MCGG's growth as a global esports title as the first GO1 titleholder will share the spotlight with the next MLBB world champions.
The tournament will feature 24 participants, representing regions across Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, Middle East and North America (MENA), Latin America (LATAM), the Philippines. The Grand Finals will unfold at the M7 Carnival, transforming Jakarta into a global esports stage. Fans and players will be immersed in a weekend full of "MCGG Land" festivities.
Gao "Skyhook" Chong, MCGG Producer at MOONTON Games, said: "Launching the GO1 World Championship is a proud moment for everyone on the team. It's amazing to see how our growing esports ecosystem is putting players on the global stage and revealing hidden champions from everywhere across the world. This tournament embodies our vision of accessible and democratic esports, where everyone has a chance to rise to the top. At its core, MCGG is more than just a game. It's evolved into a platform that empowers players, builds communities, and drives the growth of esports worldwide."
MCGG has quickly established itself as one of 2025's top gaming titles. The title surpassed 30 million downloads within just two weeks of its Global Launch on 28 May and received the 2025 Google Play Best Game Award in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Since its inception, MCGG Esports has evolved into a multi-tiered ecosystem encompassing international, regional, national and community tournaments.
Feature Stories
1Play and MOONTON Games bring MLBB Esports to life with first M Series Collectible Cards
MOONTON Games has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with 1Play, naming the youth-focused collectibles brand as the Official Trading Card Partner of the M7. The collaboration deals a new M Series trading card lineup featuring teams, players, and key competitive moments—bringing MLBB Esports from the digital arena into fans' hands.
Designed to deepen engagement, the initiative builds a tangible bridge between fans and the tournament's legacy. Just as trading cards have been a cornerstone of fan culture in traditional sports such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), English Premier League (EPL), and the FIFA World Cup—the MLBB Official Trading Card collection brings this longstanding tradition to MLBB Esports. Fans will be able to assemble a deck of iconic moments and create a lasting connection with the game's competitive story.
Adrian Cher, Global Head of Partnerships of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: This partnership with 1Play marks a strategic step in how we extend MLBB Esports beyond the screen and into the everyday lives of our fans. As trading cards gain renewed traction among younger audiences, this partnership allows us to connect with the next generation through an avenue that reflects their interests and self-expression. By bringing the M Series into physical collectibles, we're not only enriching the M7 experience, but also reinforcing MLBB's place alongside traditional sports ecosystems where memorabilia plays a central role in fan culture. The upcoming collectibles launch reflects our long-term commitment to building MLBB Esports as a global sports and entertainment IP."
The 1Play × M Series Official Trading Card Collection will debut during the M7, with the first edition dedicated to the championship. Additional activations, including team collaborations, onsite exclusives, signing sessions, and community events, will be rolled out to expand MLBB Esports' cultural footprint worldwide.
