Tensions have arisen between Moonton, the developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and the Indonesian Board of Esports (PBESI) following criticism from PBESI’s general secretary, Frengkie Ong. Ong openly voiced his discontent with Moonton’s handling of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Pro League (MPL) Indonesia competition, announcing plans to revamp the league in the near future.
Adding fuel to the fire, the MLBB Indonesia Men National Team faced disappointment in the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, failing to progress beyond the group stage despite their reputation as a powerhouse. Indonesian fans vented their frustration on social media, targeting national team players and head coach Bjorn “Zeys” Ong.
Accompanying the national team in Cambodia at the time, PBESI’s Frengkie Ong mocked the team’s failure on social media. He derided MPL Indonesia as an “idol competition” driven by exclusive contracts, failing to provide adequate competition for local players. Ong also blamed the MPL ID schedule for interfering with the Indonesian national team’s boot camp.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 SEA Games, Frengkie Ong took to his Instagram account to announce PBESI’s plans for a new league. This league would resemble MPL ID but would feature more teams and have no entrance fee, as opposed to the franchise structure of MPL ID. Ong also aimed to impose stricter rules on the use of foreign players, prioritizing local talent, and address concerns about the competition schedule.
However, the MLBB Indonesia community and most pundits reacted unfavorably to PBESI’s proposals, feeling that PBESI was interfering excessively with MPL ID. It was revealed that Moonton and the MPL Indonesia organizers had already collaborated with PBESI’s regulations during MPL ID Season 11, including adjusting the schedule ahead of the 2023 SEA Games.
There will be consequences
An unnamed source confirmed that MPL ID Season 11 was shortened from 8 to 6 weeks, as per PBESI’s request. The organizers had to restart the competition schedule to accommodate the adjustment, resulting in MPL ID Season 11 concluding earlier than the rest of the MPL competitions in Southeast Asia.
The source further revealed that PBESI’s intention was not to revamp MPL ID entirely but to acquire broadcast rights for the existing league and transform it into an open tournament with up to 16 teams. However, it was anticipated that Moonton would likely resort to legal action to safeguard its franchise against PBESI’s ambitions.
Moonton Indonesia and PBESI have yet to release any official statements regarding the proposed revamp of MPL ID. If PBESI continues to voice its grievances, there is a high possibility that MPL ID Season 12, originally scheduled for August, may be postponed and not held outside Jakarta, as initially planned.
While the future of MPL ID remains uncertain, the clash between Moonton and PBESI highlights the challenges and tensions that can arise in the esports industry as different stakeholders for influence and control over popular competitive gaming leagues.
