The Unstoppable Rise of Mobile Esports Continues…

The last year or so has witnessed much hype regarding one particular form of esports, and it isn’t console or PC – it’s mobile! Mobile esports, whether recognized titles or mobile adaptations, are witnessing surging viewership numbers, as the days of PC vs. console are long behind us.

There has been considerable hype surrounding mobile esports, but can this niche category sustain itself in the long run? A plethora of gaming critics would suggest that mobile esports is a signifier of growth within the industry, but let us take a closer look at the current state of global esports and its continued dominance to understand if those critics are onto something.

Mobile Esports Has Taken Southeast Asia by Storm

To fully comprehend the evolution of mobile esports, we must focus on where it dominates the most globally… Southeast Asia!

In this part of the world, games like Arena of Valor and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang have witnessed the formulation of esports ecosystems, with the latter witnessing heights of more than 3 million concurrent viewers during the 2025 World Championships. Therefore, it’s no surprise to know that ML: Bang Bang currently has eight pro leagues in Southeast Asia.

More interestingly, a wave of established brands and teams from the sports world, such as PSG and Bayern Munich, have invested in the region’s esports scene.

Southeast Asia’s Esports Inclusion

Potentially, the most obvious sign that mobile esports’ popularity is unstoppable in SEA was the nation’s inclusion of esports as an official event at the 2022 Asian Games. Titles like PUBG Mobile, FIFA, Dota 2, LoL, and Street Fighter were present at the 2022 games, and we can expect even more for the 2026 edition next year.

While the likes of PUBG Mobile dominate the mobile esports landscape, we shouldn’t neglect titles like Free Fire in SEA, especially following the 2021 World Series, which became the most-viewed esports tournament not just in Asia, but globally.

Intriguingly, while fans heavily influenced viewership figures for Free Fire in the Eastern Hemisphere, Latin America also played a significant role in the title’s record-breaking figures, thanks to Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking platforms.

What about the West?

On the topic of Latin America, this region is rapidly emerging as one of the key areas for mobile esports. Again, Free Fire has been all the rage, especially in LATAM regions like Brazil.

Earlier this year, TSM FTX made waves by announcing its acquisition of a Brazilian Free Fire roster, positioning itself to compete in the LBFF. This move highlights the growing potential in the LATAM esports scene while another well-known entity, Team Liquid, is also a competitor in the second division of LBFF.

Despite Free Fire’s popularity in Brazil, the mobile esports scene in the region is still in its early stages of development. Mobile Legends and League of Legends: Wild Rift have launched leagues specifically aimed at the LATAM region; however, since both tournaments are still in their infancy, it’s challenging to gauge the success of these initiatives, while there is no doubt that mobile esports remains most popular in the east.