Top Indian and SEA esports business developments in March 2021

07 April 2021

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Indian SEA esports business

As the various mobile-esport ecosystems in SEA prepare for their marquee competitions, organisations and organisers are bringing sponsors and partners on board along with key hires. The month of March saw a host of new announcements along with a big investment from Krafton into India’s NODWIN Gaming.

These are the key developments for March, in collaboration with AFK Gaming. To read more about a given story, click the corresponding link in the title.


ByteDance acquires Moonton at reported $4bn valuation

M2 World Championship 2021
Credit: Moonton

Chinese technology company ByteDance announced the acquisition of Moonton, the publisher behind mobile title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The acquisition is believed to be valued at $4bn (~£2.89bn) and was via ByteDance’s video game division Nuverse.

The title is set to compete against Riot Games’s Wild Rift in the mobile-MOBA space. The investment and subsequent initiatives will set the precedent on how the mobile MOBA market will evolve in coming years. 


NODWIN Gaming raises £16.2m from KRAFTON

Akshat Rathee
Pictured: Akshat Rathee, Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. Credit: NODWIN Gaming

Indian esports agency NODWIN Gaming announced a fundraise of £16.2m from South Korean holding company KRAFTON. The minority investment is expected to accelerate NODWIN’s development in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

The additional funding will allow NODWIN to support talent, strengthen gaming infrastructures and technology, and organise a multitude of tournament IPs at a national and international level. 


100PLUS and Secretlab revealed as Wild Rift SEA Icon Series Singapore sponsors

Credit: Riot Games

Esports marketing and events firm Eliphant has named sports drink 100PLUS and chair manufacturer Secretlab as official sponsors of 2021 League of Legends: Wild Rift Southeast Asia Icon Series Singapore.

100PLUS will provide beverages to all tournament crew, casters and participants. Secretlab chairs will be used by teams competing in the Icon Series.


EVOS Esports signs Qontra as Head of Talent

EVOS Esports x Aaron Qontra Chan
Credit: EVOS Esports

Indonesia-based esports organisation EVOS Esports announced the appointment of Aaron ‘Qontra’ Chan as its Head of Talent in Malaysia and Singapore. Alongside Chan’s appointment, EVOS unveiled that Azrul ‘J Hunter’ Anwar and Fattah ‘FattahZie’ Zakia have joined as brand ambassadors


PSG Talon reveals partnership with AORUS

Credit: AORUS / PSG.Talon

Hong Kong-based esports organisation PSG Talon announced a partnership with Gigabyte’s gaming division AORUS as its official ‘display and PC partner’. The partnership will last until the end of 2021 with the core focus being on Talon’s League of Legends roster, which plays in the Pacific Championship Series.


BREN Esports partners with EMERGE Esports

Credit: Bren Esports

Southeast Asian esports organisation BREN Esports entered a year-long partnership with Singapore-based esports management agency EMERGE Esports. The partnership will facilitate BREN’s expansion into Singapore and also manage the organisation’s various competitive rosters. EMERGE also gained the media and advertising rights for the BREN athletes for marketing purposes. 


Esports titles for Southeast Asian Games 2021 revealed

Credit: Southeast Asian Games

The 10 esport titles which will be included in the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam were revealed to be League of Legends, League of Legends: Wild Rift, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, FIFA Online 4, Free Fire, Arena of Valor and CrossFire. The competition is set to take place from November 21st to December 2nd in the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam. 


AFK Gaming is an India-based esports media and content company that aims to provide quality and consistent coverage about teams, players, tournaments and competitive video games with a primary focus on the Asian region.

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