Samsung Backs Collegiate Tournaments of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) in Southeast Asia

Samsung is partnering Moonton Games to back a campus series edition of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament across certain key Southeast Asia markets.    

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Campus Series will begin in late April and features local tournaments across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

According to Samsung, the Campus Series is an opportunity to provide provide ‘a gateway for student gamers to pursue their esports aspirations’, and the telco giant will equip students with its Galaxy S25 Ultra Smartphone banking on its Vulkan engine to boost gameplay.  

Carl Nordenberg, VP, Regional Head of Mobile Experience, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, shared, “We believe in providing the next generation of gamers with the best technology and opportunities to help reach their full potential. Through Samsung’s Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series, we are not only equipping students with mobile devices, we are also creating a forum for them to develop their skills, gain experience, and expand their community.”

The Campus series qualifiers will begin on April 25 and end on May 18, before the regional finals in Indonesia take place between June 20 and 22. It is open to students based in Southeast Asia aged 18 and over.  

According to ASN data, Samsung Mobile (16.4%, ~US$27m) is the 4^th largest investor for its category in the Asian sponsorship market since Q322, with an average quarterly investment of almost US$3m during this period. As for Q225, our forecast is rosy with investment tipped to hit almost US$8.8m, this is over 2.9x of the usual average. Prior to withdrawing its deal in 2024, Samsung had a US$212k deal with OneEsports in Q423.