The M7 World Championship becomes the most-watched mobile esports event of all time with 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), according to Esports Charts.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 28 January 2026 - Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) enters a bold new era of global expansion. At the M7 World Championship (M7) Grand Finals, Cloud Zhang, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MOONTON Games, unveiled the 2026 MLBB Esports Roadmap—a five-region blueprint designed to unify the global ecosystem. As part of MLBB's international expansion strategy, Türkiye will host the M8 World Championship (M8) Finals—the first time MLBB's flagship tournament will be held in Europe. Additionally, MLBB was unveiled as the first title for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 in Saudi Arabia; it will also debut at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 as a medal event. These all ladder up to MLBB Esports' ambitions to reach over 70 regions, stage over 5,000 events, and surpass 600 million Hours Watched (HW) in 2026. Launched in 2016 by international video game company MOONTON Games, MLBB enters its 10th anniversary this year as a global gaming phenomenon. Over the past decade, the title has commanded a worldwide playerbase of over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million Monthly Active Users (MAU). Its nine-year-long esports ecosystem has earned the distinction of the world's most popular mobile esports title from Esports Charts every year since 2021. The 2026 MLBB Esports Roadmap underscores MOONTON Games' ambition to cement the title at the forefront of global esports and entertainment. Five regions, one unified goal In 2026, MLBB Esports will transition to a five-region structure—Southeast Asia (SEA); Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA); Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); East Asia (EA); and the Americas (AMER). This framework unifies the global MLBB Esports ecosystem while empowering each region through tailored infrastructure and talent development pathways. At the heart of the plan is the Championship Tour, an intercontinental tournament piloting across AMER, EA, and SEA to elevate regional competition and spotlight emerging talent. The shift to a region-focused model reflects MLBB Esports' ambition to balance local development with global integration, where each region upholds the strength of the global ecosystem. Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "With this blueprint, we're taking a long-term view of what MLBB Esports can be. Every community will have the chance to grow and develop its own identity while remaining connected to a larger ecosystem. This transition is as much about integration as it is about expansion. By bringing emerging regions into the fold, we ensure that every market plays a central role in the competitive landscape. Layering development, competition, and community in this way allows each region to contribute meaningfully while strengthening the ecosystem as a whole." Next: All eyes on Türkiye The M8 Finals will be hosted in January, 2027, in Türkiye—the first time the M Series takes place in Europe. Meanwhile, the M8 Wild Card will debut in Thailand, which will also mark the country's first M Series event. Tiger said: "Hosting the M8 World Championship in Türkiye is a defining moment for MLBB Esports. For the first time in M Series history, we're stepping beyond our Southeast Asian strongholds and expanding its footprints in a new region. This move reflects our confidence in the growth of emerging MLBB regions and our focus on integrating them into a broader, connected ecosystem. Strategically, the M8 World Championship shapes MOONTON Games' approach to regional integration and reinforces our vision for a unified, global competitive ecosystem. It also lays the foundation for sustainable, long-term development, positioning MLBB Esports for continued leadership in the years ahead." MLBB on the global sporting stage MLBB will take centre stage at the inaugural ENC 2026as its first confirmed title. Set for 23 to 29 November, 32 national teams will compete in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the championship. Structured around national representation, the ENC serves as a new global platform that places national pride at the core of the competition. The tournament broadens MLBB Esports' global calendar and reinforces its role in uniting players and fans through nation-based competition. More information can be found here. MLBB will also debut as a medalled event at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, one of the region's largest sporting events. Held from mid September to early October, this milestone will build on MLBB's established presence at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, where the title marked its fourth consecutive appearance in 2025. These appearances demonstrate MLBB's evolution from a leading esports into a key player within the international sporting landscape. Tiger added:...