MOONTON has confirmed that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League (MPL) Malaysia will become franchised after Season 16.
This means that from 2026 onwards, Malaysia will become the third franchised region in MLBB after Indonesia and the Philippines.
In a press release, MOONTON said that the league will adopt an “enhanced franchise format” with more information to come in the future. It is unclear what this will entail; however, it could signal that MPL Malaysia will have a different model from its other franchised regions.
MOONTON also said that the main goal of the franchised league is to take the country’s esports industry to the “next level” by creating more opportunities for the ecosystem.
Notably, in April this year, MOONTON teased that it was ‘seriously considering‘ franchising its Malaysian esports ecosystem.
“By strategically investing in long-term stability, we are opening new pathways for talent development, commercial growth, and deeper fan engagement,” said Krystal Tan, Head of Business Development for Malaysia Esports at MOONTON Games.
“This will ensure that MPL Malaysia continues to set the standard for sports entertainment in Malaysia and establish the global benchmark for esports excellence.”
Other MLBB franchised leagues
MPL Indonesia, the first franchised esports league for SEA, adopted the format in 2019. The Philippines followed suit in 2021. Since then, both leagues have seen strong growth in viewership and fanbases for the franchised teams—factors which would undoubtedly have influenced MPL Malaysia to follow in their footsteps.
In a franchised league, teams pay a buy-in fee to purchase a permanent slot in the competition, moving away from the promotion/relegation format.
Additionally, franchised teams are usually given incentives such as a revenue share from the overall league. The franchised format also provides stability to players, while ensuring salaries remain sustainable through salary caps and other regulations.
Criticism of franchised leagues stems from the fact that it limits opportunities for new talent to rise through open tournaments. MOONTON has generally handled this in Indonesia and the Philippines through the MLBB Development League (MDL), which has open qualifiers and third-party tournaments. Many talents from the MDL have gone on to play in the MPL across both regions.
In 2019, the buy-in for the MPL Indonesia amounted to $1m. At the time, MOONTON said that the teams could receive more than 50 per cent of the league’s revenue pool before deduction of operating expenses and marketing costs.
Additional information regarding the MPL MY buy-in amount and other contractual intricacies hasn’t been revealed yet.
MPL Malaysia Season 16 to be the Last Edition With Legacy Format
The MPL Malaysia Season 16 is set to kick off with its regular season from September 13th to October 19th.
Ten teams will compete in the tournament: SRG x OG Esports, Homebois, Untitled, AERO Esports, Team Vamos, Monster Vicious, Todak, Team Rey, CG Esports, and GamesMY Kelantan.
The top six from the regular season will advance to the playoffs, with the best two from here representing the region in the M7 World Championship.
