MLBB wins Mobile Esports Game of the Year for a fifth time—what comes next

On October 29, MOONTON Games confirmed that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang won Mobile Esports Game of the Year at the GamingonPhone Awards 2026. It is the title’s fifth win in the category, while MOONTON’s PR team also received the PR/Marketing Team of the Year award. The trophy is the headline; the more interesting story is the competitive map that has grown around it.

A fifth award reflects a wider tournament journey

MOONTON’s recap points to several separate milestones: M7 reached 5.68 million peak concurrent viewers, MSC and MWI made their European debut at the Esports World Cup in Paris, and MLBB appeared as a medal event at the 2026 Asian Games. Together, those milestones show a game moving from a Southeast Asian centre into a broader international calendar. For me, the useful question is not how many trophies sit on the shelf, but which regions and teams now have a clearer route into the conversation.

Thailand and Indonesia are close to the next chapter

The ceremony took place in Thailand, which MOONTON has also selected to host MCT SEA and the M8 Wild Card in December. Thai fans will see a domestic audience connected directly to international qualification, while Indonesian viewers can follow the announced open-league pathway that includes the MDL Indonesia champion. That gives developing teams a route to a larger regional stage.

The next story is therefore bigger than another award count. M8’s finals are scheduled for Istanbul in January 2027, with participating teams and detailed schedules still subject to the organizer’s latest notices. The award gives the season a marker; the qualification routes will show how the ecosystem keeps changing.

MOONTON official release: MLBB wins at GamingonPhone Awards 2026

GamingonPhone Awards 2026 winners