Two children supported by Make-A-Wish® Indonesia posing with members of ONIC Indonesia (Credits: MOONTON Games)

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Indonesia, through MOONTON Cares, collaborated with Make-A-Wish® Indonesia to welcome six children living with critical illnesses to MPL Arena, giving them the opportunity to experience an RRQ vs ONIC match live.

The collaboration comes as gaming-related wishes become an increasingly important part of Make-A-Wish®'s work worldwide. Make-A-Wish® International has identified gaming as its fastest-growing wish category worldwide, while calling for greater involvement from mobile game developers and publishers. MPL Indonesia's collaboration offers an example of how an established esports ecosystem can help respond to that interest.

For the children supported by Make-A-Wish® Indonesia, the visit brought them closer to the competition they enjoy watching during treatment, turning a familiar source of excitement into a live experience.

"For children living with critical illnesses, treatment can be tiring and repetitive. Through our team members who accompany them, we found that many of the children enjoy watching MPL matches during treatment. It gives them excitement and something to look forward to. That is what makes this collaboration meaningful to us: the opportunity to connect children with something they love and encourage them as they continue their treatment," said Miranti Hadisusilo, Founder and CMO of Make-A-Wish® Indonesia.

Beyond competition: Using esports to give back to communities

With more than 1.5 billion installations worldwide, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has grown into a global gaming and esports ecosystem connecting players and communities across markets. Through MOONTON Cares, MOONTON Games uses its gaming and esports platforms to support communities beyond entertainment.

In Indonesia, MOONTON Cares previously partnered with Hope Cup and Garudaku Academy to contribute IDR 330 million (approximately USD 18,300) towards supporting 420 students across 14 schools in West and Central Java. The initiative supported gaming-related extracurricular activities and internet connectivity in rural schools.

Other initiatives, including MLBB's Golden Month's "BUKBAR Berbagi Kebaikan", committed over IDR 200 million (approximately USD 11,100) to support more than 300 children across Indonesia and brought communities together through charitable activities and shared experiences. 

The Make-A-Wish® Indonesia collaboration highlights another way MLBB's connection with fans can extend beyond competition, bringing children closer to the teams and players who have become part of their lives during treatment.

Turning passion for MPL into meaningful experiences

Make-A-Wish® Indonesia also hopes to connect with more gaming communities across the country. While its current work focuses on Jakarta, the foundation sees opportunities to reach children in other cities through the wider MPL community. 

"Our team saw firsthand how much the children enjoyed watching MPL matches while undergoing treatment. When the opportunity to connect with MPL came along, it felt like a natural fit. We hope this can be the beginning of a long-term collaboration that helps us fulfil more children's wishes," added Miranti. 

The collaboration offers a reminder that the impact of esports is not limited to trophies, viewership, or competition. For some fans, it is also about having something to look forward to, people to cheer for, and experiences that bring them joy during difficult times. 

Through MOONTON Cares, MOONTON Games aims to build on that relationship by using the reach of MLBB and its esports ecosystem to support communities. The collaboration with Make-A-Wish Indonesia reflects that effort, showing how a shared passion for gaming can create moments of joy and connection beyond the screen.

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