In 2023 Mobile Esports has shown significant growth and development in every aspect. From titles competing to be the best esports game and providing unparalleled experiences to emerge as new sensations, all we have seen this year will be stitched to the hearts of millions of esports fans. We have plenty of discussions to carry out from the world of mobile esports, uncovering the standout titles, events, and more that defined the year, with this GamingonPhone’s Mobile Esports Year in Review for 2023.
Revival of Indian Mobile esports scene: En route to becoming the new powerhouse
The Indian mobile esports scene is undoubtedly centered on Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). The title has faced several ups and downs in the country since its release. However, being one of the biggest markets of PUBG Mobile, the publisher KRAFTON decided to take action and revive the game again after the last ban in July 2022.
A year later, the publisher announced that the game was returning to India. Millions of fans and players were delighted not only to get the chance to play the game but also to watch their favorite players competing on the stage. Finally, as the game emerged in the stores again after the announcement regarding the unban last May, it shook the whole esports scene in India.
Just after a few days, several big events took place starting with the BGMI Masters Series Season 2 on August 2023 where Gladiators Esports emerged as the champion. After that, BGIS and BMPS took place. In between, fans get to watch intense action between the best teams from India and Korea in the India – Korea Invitational. There were a lot of debates and fans were hoping to watch any Indian teams making it to the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) 2023 by getting an invited slot. However, that could not be fulfilled but the most important thing is India is on the ship that sailing to unveil more in 2024.
So, while talking about the pro scene of mobile titles in India, there are a few teams whose names are a must to include. We witnessed new powers rising and several controversies with the teams as well. Not only in the BGMI scene, rather, the rise of the Indian teams is spotted in other titles like Brawl Stars, and Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) as well.
Revenant Esports became the India Circuit winner and qualified for the LCQ stage of Brawl Stars Championship (BSC) 2023. We took an interview of the team captain as well to hear his view on the future of Brawl Stars in India. Apart from these, new controversies were spotted when Luminosity Gaming‘s player ‘Vague’ initiated hate speech after losing against GodLike in the CODM World Championship 2023 semi. For any Indian team so far, reaching the grand finals of the World Championship was exceptional and shows the might that the Indian teams are getting day by day.
Finally, as the Indian mobile esports scene is going to make a huge impact in the coming years, the teams and players started to get recognition as well. Team Soul got the sponsorship of iQOO a few days ago. This points to the height and possibility that the mobile esports scene of India can climb.
Mobile Legends on the ladder to climb a new height after completing a successful year in 2023
Mobile Legends started this year with its biggest event the M4 World Championship. Though the event was to warp up the 2022 esports year, it featured 16 teams just like the old format. Then the title decided to introduce the Wildcard stage and for the first time, it made its presence in the M5 World Championship where 22 teams participated as contenders. AP.Bren became the champion of the M5 and the event set a record for the highest peak viewership for any MLBB event.
Along with these two, the Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) 2023 was another great event to remember. Blacklist International, ONIC Esports, and APBR were the most dominating teams in 2023. However, the title has already announced the M6 World Championship’s homecoming to Malaysia. Though a lot of things are yet to be revealed in 2024, we can hope to watch and experience the current pace to grow a lot bigger.
We were invited to a majestic showcase of the recently held Mobile Legends (MLBB) M5 World Championship 2023 and got a chance to witness the action live, it is a different experience, and the fun of being there is something else. As a live viewer of the event, we learned a few lessons from the event as well as had an exclusive talk with the Bigetron CEO and the Head of Esports at Saudi Esports Federation who shared their views on mobile esports in the coming days.
GamingonPhone’s mobile esports Year in Review 2023: PUBG Mobile gathered the world together
After the end of the pandemic, PUBG Mobile planned to secure a stable esports year in 2023. The title, in doing so, decreased the prize money and other facilities for a few events. But, there weren’t any backdrops while organizing the events or assembling the whole of its esports ecosystem. The game has a wide range of esports ecosystems divided into regional leagues, country leagues, and other events.
In 2023, there were two grand events apart from the Chinese and Japanese tournaments. Though the highest amount of prize pools are featured in those leagues, the global events gathered all the other organizations and players from around the globe under the same roof to fight the others. However, we saw that the PUBG Mobile World Invitational (PMWI) 2023 was featured in the Gamers8 event in Saudi Arabia. It shows the global recognition of PUBG Mobile as a leading esports title.
We already mentioned the pro scene of PUBG Mobile and the esports sector’s rise in India. So, the coming days will throw a challenge to the title’s authority that organizes the events on whether India will remain as a separate entity in the game’s global arena or the country will have a chance to enter into the global scene. India is deprived of any events other than invitationals in the global esports scenario (so far what we have seen). Will this scenario remain in the future or it will change subject to the concerns of PUBG Mobile’s authority?
Let’s head back to where we were before. The game organized its biggest esports event in a calendar year, the PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2023. There were no changes in the format and the team numbers remained the same.
However, the game decreased the prize pool by a million dollars. After a lot of drama and action, IHC Esports became the champion of the event. The title already announced its esports roadmap for 2024 where we’ll see some major changes along with new events in Brazil and change in formats. We’ll say that PUBG Mobile is on the right track but the game needs to get more attention as the craze is now for MOBA titles. So, to prevail in this competitive industry, new thoughts, and features are a must.
New Games to spread its wings, Battle Royale titles spent a decent year
Battle Royale titles like Free Fire spent a decent year in esports in 2023. It organized its biggest event in esports, the FFWS 2023, and completed it successfully. On the other hand, Call of Duty also went through a good year indeed.
But to increase the competition, Farlight 84 is making several plans when it steps into the new year. The title commenced its first season of the Farlight 84 Philippines Championship and its plan for 2024 looks promising as we saw in the roadmap.
Supercell putting down its popular competitive titles at one stage
It is great for Supercell that a few of its esports titles can be showcased and featured on the same stage. Taking a look at Clash Royale and Clash of Clans, both titles commenced their world finals in Helsinki, Finland.
From the 24th of November to the 26th, the game hosted Clash of Clans World Championship 2023 and CRL 2023 World Finals and completed both of the events successfully. The year 2023 began after a successful 2022 season. Following the same format and prize pool for the participants, Supercell completed its duty to provide fun and entertainment for the esports fans.
The biggest surprise in Clash Royale was the poor performance of the sensational player Mohamed Light. The champion of the 2022 World Finals was spotted as an entirely different person, losing many rounds by not judging his name properly. CRL is the biggest esports series in the title with 7 regular seasons and a warmup stage. The player was the winner in six of them and still lost the momentum in the final scene while Mugi became the champion.
Coming to Clash of Clans, the game’s esports scene in 2023 was dominated by Tribe Gaming. Though the team failed to perform well on the grand stage, it took away most of the major events. Finally, Brawl Stars organized monthly finals throughout the year in different regions.
The grand event of the title, Brawl Stars World Finals 2023, ended with ZETA DIVISION becoming the crowned champion. This year’s event featured a lower number of teams and a prize pool as well. 2023 went well for Indian team Revenant Esports as it managed to reach the top 8 at the World Finals 2023.
GamingonPhone’s esports Year in Review 2023: MOBA titles were on the top, Wild Rift walked the opposite way
While 2023 went as a golden year for MOBA titles like Pokémon Unite, Mobile Legends, Arena of Valor, etc., League of Legends: Wild Rift walked the opposite way. The reason is unclear though. However, it reduced its events and divided them into two conferences.
We saw the hype of the Horizon Cup in 2021 and the Icons Global Championship in 2022. The latter event saw a major setback and suffered from viewership issues and maybe that’s why Riot Games decided to take down the events. However, the title always lacked attention, thus, bringing poor results.
On the other hand, Arena of Valor continued its journey and kept a good pace throughout the entire year. We saw several successful events take place and gave the teams a huge amount of prize money. The coming year also seems to be successful.
The mobile esports industry is on the road to reach the glory. The rapid growth of the mobile gaming industry along with its esports scenario is binding millions of mobile gamers and accumulating the emotions, and experience to turn them into a new sensation. As the growth continues, the possibilities are truly endless. 2024, it is time for you to shine. That was all for GamingonPhone’s esports Year in Review 2023, we’ll see you in 2024!
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