When you picture an esports tournament, you probably see the standard image of a big stage, lots of lights, and two opposing teams competing in front of an audience. Crucially, though the audience watches the big screen behind them, the competitors are staring intensely at monitors hooked up to a PC or a console. (Sometimes, maybe a little too intensely.) But in this new era of gaming, there’s no need to limit what esports can be. There are many more ways of competing — and some of them live right in your pocket. Even if you don’t want to believe it. 

Here’s how to recover from mobile esports denial: A five-step process. 

Mobile phones have long been one of the most popular gaming platforms, owing to the fact that pretty much everyone has a phone now. In 2023, an estimated 2.8 billion people played mobile games around the world. According to CivicScience survey data, 65% of adults in the US alone play mobile games. 

But chances are, you’re thinking of these mobile games as something very casual. Considering some of the most popular mobile games include Candy Crush (yes, still), Subway Surfers, and Roblox, there’s some truth to that. Sure, you need those phone games that you can pull out in the airport, or on the bus, or while bored and lying in bed. Casual games are still as popular as ever, but nowadays, competitive ones are rapidly on the rise, too. Some of the top mobile games in the world, believe it or not, are just as competitive as League of Legends or Counter-Strike. 

Garena Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, and Clash of Clans — these games, among many others, sit at the top of the market and have strong esports scenes. As these games climb the ranks, their playerbases have been climbing too, with players constantly sharpening their skills. The scene has seen tournaments with huge cash prizes crop up, boasting the same polish and production value you’d see in the PC world. The teams competing for a living, the big stages, the blinding lights, the cheering crowds — it’s all there. The only difference between this and “typical” esports is that the action happens on the phone. 

Stage 1: Precontemplation

Wait… are mobile games… even competitive enough to be an esport?

Even as the mobile game industry was growing rapidly, not everyone was convinced that they would be the next big thing in esports. STUN.GG CEO Christopher Djaja admitted that he initially was skeptical of mobile esports. He had come from console and then PC esports, leaving him wary of games played on phones. 

“It never occurred to me that mobile gaming could honor the competitive experience esports needed,” Djaja said. “I realized I was completely wrong when I saw the viewership first-hand at an offline tournament. It blew my mind. It was like watching League of Legends but all handled on a phone. That was the tipping point.”

Daniel Santoso, who helps run Team Liquid’s Indonesian and Philippines esports, added: “Seeing the explosive growth in the fanbase and viewership in regions like Southeast Asia really turned my cautious optimism into firm belief. The dedication of fans and the increasing major esports organizations made it clear that mobile esports was here to stay.” 

Stage 2: Contemplation

Okay so people are playing mobile games competitively… Should… Should we?

Seeing the wild support and hype surrounding mobile esports, Team Liquid was quick to study the landscape and find a way to get involved. In 2017, they signed a Clash Royale team — Clash Royale was one of the first mobile esports to gain a major foothold in the western gaming scene, and Team Liquid’s squad was a consistent high performer. Then, in 2020, they signed a Garena Free Fire team from Brazil upon noticing how massive the game had grown in that region. Earlier that year, the Free Fire Pro League Brazil had reached over 1 million peak viewers. 

“Free Fire is one of the fastest rising games in Brazil, and seeing Team Liquid enter the scene with a team like the ex-B8 squad only shows how ambitious and attentive the organization is,” Free Fire Manager Bruno Santos said back in 2020. “This signing will also help in consolidating the competitive environment of the game, which also brings a spotlight to this new scene.”

Many things about the signing just made sense. Team Liquid already had a Rainbow Six Siege team from Brazil, and had witnessed the country’s immense passion for esports firsthand. Although Team Liquid Clash Royale disbanded in 2021, with Free Fire following in 2023, the precedent was set — they wanted to support and foster that kind of fanbase.

“Here in Brazil, the mobile esports scene is already part of the everyday life of esports fans,” said PUBG Mobile Team Manager Erick Cardoso. “In the past, there was some resistance from these fans, but it was quickly overcome thanks to the impressive numbers achieved and more people becoming familiar with the gaming ecosystem and fell in love with it.”

As the fanbase has grown and become more involved, livestreams and LANs have also started to elevate their production value. The engaging commentary and high-quality content have helped mobile esports compete with the more mainstream titles — and prove it’s here to stay. 

Stage 3: Preparation

Okay, we’ve recognized that mobile esports are part of the industry’s future. Fine. But what can we do now that the scene is growing? How will we keep growing a fanbase? 

After Clash Royale and Free Fire had both been such successful ventures, Team Liquid didn’t want to stop there; the potential of mobile gaming had arrived. They started looking at other mobile esports scenes that were underrepresented outside of certain regions and found PUBG Mobile, acquiring another rockstar Brazilian team formerly under Loops Esports. This scene has continued to grow exponentially since then, which came as no surprise to Cardoso. 

“Brazil experienced a huge mobile gaming movement, which showed us the potential of this niche of players. I believe that the future holds even greater numbers,” he said.

And we have the formula to make mobile esports grow:

1. 50% vidya games
2. 50% Liquid fandom power

As esports fans, we all want the same things out of our esports scenes. We want to see hometown heroes. We want to have fan-focused content that reflects our favorite players, moments, and inside jokes. We want to have IRL experiences where we can connect with one another, and with players. 

One of the things that sets the mobile esports scene apart is the kinds of memes and fan energy they bring. 

Exhibit 1: 

Exhibit 2: 

“To engage mobile fans, it's crucial to stay current with trends and create relatable content, particularly through memes and short-form media,” explained Santoso. “While there are parallels in engaging with both mobile and traditional esports fans, the approach must be tailored to each community's unique preferences. [...] By understanding and amplifying their voices, we can create a meaningful connection that aligns with our brand's values and vision.” 

This deep understanding of a community’s conversations, memes, and passions can help them further connect with not only each other but also our players. 

“As a global brand, Team Liquid wants more and more fans to get to know [PUBG Mobile] and start rooting for us,” said Cardoso. “We hope to achieve this with great results and by working in a way that makes fans proud of us. I hope that fans from more countries can cheer for us in PUBG Mobile.” 

What makes mobile games truly unique when it comes to esports is accessibility. PUBG Mobile has more than 30 million daily active users because most people are much more likely to own a basic phone than a high-end gaming PC. Most mobile games can be played with pretty low settings and don’t require the latest updates, making it even easier to start playing no matter where you are. All you need is an internet connection. According to Worldmetrics, 2.5 billion people worldwide play mobile games, and mobile gaming accounts for more than 50% of global gaming revenue.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a mobile game that’s been rapidly growing all over the world. Over 5.2 million people sign in to the game daily, but the most passionate fans are in Indonesia and the Philippines. 

“Indonesia and [the] Philippines have populations of 280 million and 110 million, respectively,” Djaja said. “Combined, that’s about a 400 million population, larger than the US. That’s a fanbase you don’t want to miss out on.”

But it’s not just the numbers — it’s the dedication and the passion of this community. Santoso told me that he distinctly recalls the moment Team Liquid signed ML:BB before a major event. In Indonesia, there was actually a mini-parade with a Team Liquid banner. Both Indonesian and Filipino fans adopted the “Let’s go Liquid” cheer, “enthusiastically embracing” the team and showcasing an “immediate and deep bond” with us. 

“In these regions, mobile gaming transcends typical entertainment; it's woven into the everyday lives of people and has become a part of the cultural fabric,” Santoso said. “This deep integration has fostered an incredibly passionate and dedicated fan base that regularly engages with mobile gaming content, not just casually but as a significant aspect of social interaction and community identity.”

Stage 4: Action

Let’s go! We’re ready to take what we’ve learned about mobile esports and take on something even bigger. We’re going to become part of its journey to the next level.

With so many people playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, it’s no surprise that they also obsessively watch the top players compete — these pros are an inspiration to the average player. After seeing how locked in fans were as they rooted for their favorite teams, Team Liquid decided to give them a global team to cheer for that represented their hometown heroes. 

When Liquid signed the teams formerly known as Echo and Aura, they became the first mobile esports organizations from Southeast Asia to be acquired by a global organization. Upon signing the squads and parent company STUN.GG in May of 2024, TL Co-CEO Victor Goossens said: “We have always admired the intensity and loyalty of fans in Indonesia and the Philippines, which we’ve experienced firsthand in esports events in the past.” 

“You’ll see more integration through our content and performance,” Djaja added. “It won’t be long before Team Liquid fans will recognize the TL flavor in Indonesia and Philippines. Just a matter of time!” 

Stage 5: Maintenance 

Sign the best mobile esports pros? Check. Connect them with fans around the world? Check. Now, we’ve got to take our top teams and show the world what we’ve got. 

Team Liquid’s Mobile Legends Bang Bang teams are both currently participating in MDL Season 14, in their respective regions. TL PH will be looking to defend their title from MDL Season 13, whilst TL ID looks to break through to the top 4. But scenes don’t just live off of tournaments.  It takes local communities to build something real, and through this time, both teams will be part of grassroots events and local leagues. 

“We've also made strategic investments in local talent, supporting up-and-coming players and teams that show potential,” Santoso said. “This helps foster a strong local scene and builds loyalty and enthusiasm among the local esports communities.” 

Santoso told me that fans can expect even more local events and other engagement opportunities this year — and Team Liquid are always looking for even more ways to create a dedicated and positive community. 

Ultimately, the goal that every esports organization should strive towards is to find where the passion is and embrace it. Because no matter whether an esport lives — whether it’s on a PC or in your pocket — it’s passion that keeps them alive. And passion can’t be contained to our historical idea of what an “esports platform” is anymore. Nowadays, increasingly, a “real esport” is accessible from your phone.