One of the biggest mobile MOBAs in the world is making its debut at the continental multi-sport event.
MLBB, the world’s biggest mobile MOBA game, is heading to Japan as it has been named an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games! This big announcement from the Olympic Council of Asia marks the first time that MLBB will be featured at the Asian Games.
Held every four years, the 2026 Asian Games is a multi-sport event and is the biggest sports competition in Asia. Esports was introduced at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 as a demonstration sport. Later, it was made into a full medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.
The 20th edition of the Asian Games will next take place in Nachi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
MLBB is one of the world’s most popular mobile esports titles and is the first esports event series in history to surpass 1 billion hours of watch time, according to Esports Charts. The popular mobile MOBA has a robust esports ecosystem with competitive leagues all over the world, and the Philippines is seen as the strongest MLBB region, with multiple Filipino teams earning international trophies and medals.
On a new level
“MLBB’s inclusion at the 2026 Asian Games reflects its status as a premier mobile esport, known for its accessibility, strategic depth, and global appeal,” said Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games.
“This historic milestone not only validates MLBB’s impact on competitive gaming. It also reinforces MLBB’s role in uniting diverse communities through high-level play. We thank the Olympic Council of Asia committee for the honor of showcasing MLBB’s qualities on this prestigious stage and look forward to witnessing the Games’ top-tier competition that will inspire the next generation of esports athletes.”
MLBB will headline esports at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December 2025. This will be the fourth consecutive time that MLBB is a medal sport at the biennial multi-sporting event. It’s also the only esports event where it will have both men’s and women’s medal competitions.
MLBB also holds the record as the most-watched esports event in SEA Games history for both the men’s and women’s categories. At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the men’s category had 1,462,871 Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV) and the women’s category had 1,367,274 PCV.
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.