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Shanghai Moonton Technology Co. Ltd. (Chinese: 上海沐瞳科技有限公司; pinyin: Shànghǎi Mùtóng Kējì Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī), commonly known as Moonton, is a Chinese video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. The company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Latin America, Hong Kong, and mainland China, among other locations.[6]

Key Information

In October 2021, ByteDance acquired Moonton and it remains to operate independently.[7] In 2024, Yunfan Zhang became the CEO of Moonton.[8]

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (often abbreviated MLBB) is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Moonton. As of 2025, it has been reported to have over 1.5 billion registered users and around 110 million monthly active players. The game has ranked among the top ten most-played mobile games in more than 80 countries. It is distributed globally and maintains an international esports presence with professional leagues and tournaments across multiple regions.[9][10]

In 2026, MLBB Esports will transition to a five-region structure—Southeast Asia (SEA); Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA); Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); East Asia (EA); and the Americas (AMER). This framework unifies the global MLBB Esports ecosystem while empowering each region through tailored infrastructure and talent development pathways.[11]

The M7 World Championship, held January 3-25, 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, became the most-watched mobile esports tournament in history. According to Esports Charts, the Grand Finals reached over 5.68 million peak concurrent viewers—a new record for mobile esports. [12]

History

[edit]

Moonton was launched in Shanghai, China in July 2014.[13] The company's first commercial release came in April 2015 with Magic Rush: Heroes, a role-playing game that launched worldwide excluding the domestic Chinese market.[14] Following the completion of Magic Rush: Heroes, Moonton began development for a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. Moonton launched Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) in November 2016, released worldwide excluding mainland China,[15] and became popular in Southeast Asia, notably in Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia, where it was the most-downloaded free mobile game app among iPhone users in 2017. [16][17] The game is distributed by Skystone in the United States[18].

In 2017, Moonton began building its esports ecosystem with its first MLBB offline esports tournament in Indonesia in May, followed by the inaugural MSC (MLBB Southeast Asia Cup) in September.[citation needed] In November 2017, the company launched the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) in Indonesia, Malaysia,[citation needed] and Singapore, expanding to the Philippines in March 2018[19]  and Myanmar in February 2019.[20]

The company established regional offices, opening its Singapore branch in May 2018 and Indonesian branch in October 2018. By April 2018, MLBB had exceeded 200 million total registered accounts, growing to over 1 billion cumulative downloads by October 2020, with peak monthly active users exceeding 100 million.[21][22]

In August 2019, Moonton launched Mobile Legends: Adventure worldwide, excluding Japan, Korea, and mainland China.[23]

In November 2019, the first Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Global Championship (M1) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 16 teams participating from 14 countries.[24]

In December 2019, MLBB officially became a medal sport at the 30th Southeast Asian Games, marking its recognition as a legitimate competitive sport in the region.[25]

On March 22, 2021, ByteDance agreed to acquire gaming studio Moonton at a valuation of around $4 billion.[26][27]

MPL expanded internationally to Brazil and Cambodia in July 2021. By August 2021, MLBB's total registered accounts exceeded 1 billion.[28] The company diversified its content offerings, launching "Legends of Dawn - The Sacred Stone," the first MLBB animation series in August 2021, which accumulated 360 million views in its first run across multiple platforms globally.[29]

Mobile Legends: Adventure launched in Japan and South Korea in 2021 and reached the top position on the Apple App Store and Google Play free game charts in both countries. In the same year, MLBB ranked first globally in mobile esports viewing time, with an estimated 386 million hours watched.[30][31]  

In April 2023, Moonton commenced pre-registration for Watcher of Realms, a next-generation fantasy RPG game, with full platform launching in July 2023.[32]

In January 2024, Moonton and the Esports World Cup Foundation signed a multi-year collaboration agreement, with MLBB selected as an inaugural game for the Esports World Cup.[33] In October 2024, Watcher of Realms was launched in China mainland.[34]

In January 2025, MLBB officially launched in mainland China, marking the game's entry into one of the world's largest gaming markets.[35]  

On March 26, 2025, Moonton announced that publishing operations for ''Mobile Legends: Bang Bang'' in the United States transferred to Skystone Games, with a new U.S.-specific version of the game becoming available on March 27, 2025, following the temporary removal of the original version from U.S. app stores earlier in the year.[36][37]

In November 2025, Moonton was announced as one of the official partners of the Esports Nations Cup, alongside companies including Chess.com and SNK, as part of the tournament’s commercial and competitive expansion.[38]

In November 2025, MOONTON announced the first Magic Chess: Go Go (MCGG) annual tournament—the GO1 World Championship (GO1), marking the game's first offline global championship.[39]

In January 2026, Moonton announced a five-region structure—Southeast Asia (SEA); Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA); Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); East Asia (EA); and the Americas (AMER). This framework unifies the global MLBB Esports ecosystem while empowering each region through tailored infrastructure and talent development pathways. [11]

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as the first of the 16 world-class titles that national teams will compete in at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November.[40] MLBB will also debut as a medalled event at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, one of the region's largest sporting events.[41]

Merchandise

[edit]

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Genre(s) Launch date Availability Platform(s)
2015 Magic Rush: Heroes Role-playing game April 2015 Worldwide (Excluding China) Android, iOS
2016 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Multiplayer online battle arena November 2016 220+ Countries and Regions
2019 Mobile Legends: Adventure Role-playing game August 2019 Worldwide
2023 Watcher of Realms Role-playing game July 2023 Global
2025 Magic Chess: Go Go Multiplayer auto battler February 2025 Asia-Pacific Region
2025 Silver and Blood Role-playing game June 2025 Global
2025 Acecraft Co-op Vertical Shooter[42][43] August 2025 Global

Television series

[edit]
Title Years Network
Legends of Dawn: The Sacred Stone 2021 WeTV and Iflix (International)

TV9 (Malaysia) NET. (Indonesia) Kapamilya Channel & A2Z (Philippines)

Awards

[edit]
Year Organisation / Event Region Recipient Award Ref.
2022 Malaysia Book of Records Malaysia MPL Malaysia Longest Running National Esports Tournament [44]
2022 Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of China China MOONTON Games National Key Cultural Export Enterprise for MOONTON Games [45]
2023 Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of China China MOONTON Games National Key Cultural Export Projects [46]
2023 Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of China China Mobile Legends: Bang Bang National Key Cultural Export Projects [46]
2023 The Esports Awards Global Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mobile Game of the Year [47]
2024 MOBIES (Mobile Awards) United States Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Most Competitive Game of the Year [48]
2024 MOBIES (Mobile Awards) United States M5 World Championship Live Event of the Year [49]
2024 MOBIES (Mobile Awards) United States Falcons AP.Bren Mobile Team of the Year [50]
2024 GamingonPhone Awards Global Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mobile Esports Game of the Year [51]
2024 GamingonPhone Awards Global MOONTON Games Best PR / Marketing Team [52]
2024 GamingonPhone Awards Global Selangor Red Giants Mobile Esports Team of the Year [53]
2024 The Esports Awards Global Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports Mobile Game of the Year [54]
2025 Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of China China MOONTON Games National Key Cultural Export Enterprise [55]
2025 Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of China China Mobile Legends: Bang Bang National Key Cultural Export Projects [56]
2025 GamingonPhone Awards Global MOONTON Games Mobile Game Developer of the Year [57]
2025 GamingonPhone Awards Global Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno Mobile Esports Player of the Year [58]
2025 The Marketing Events Awards Global M6 World Championship Gold – Best Hybrid Event [59]
2025 The Drum Awards: Marketing APAC APAC M6 World Championship Gold – Gaming Category; Silver – Partnership or Collaboration [60]

Esports milestones

[edit]

MLBB World Championship (M Series)

[edit]
Event Year Location Notes Ref.
M1 World Championship 2019 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Featured 16 teams; reported cumulative viewership exceeded 40 million, with nearly 10 million total viewing hours. [61]
M2 World Championship 2021 Singapore Recorded a peak concurrent audience of approximately 3.08 million and more than 130 million cumulative viewers; received Best Esport Event of the Year at Gamescom Asia 2021. [62]
M3 World Championship 2021 Singapore Total viewing time exceeded 60 million hours; peak concurrent viewership reached approximately 3.19 million. [63]
M4 World Championship 2023 Jakarta, Indonesia Generated approximately 79.68 million viewing hours; peak concurrent viewership reached approximately 4.26 million. [64]
M5 World Championship 2023 Manila, Philippines Achieved a peak concurrent audience of approximately 5.07 million; reported as the most-watched MLBB World Championship to date. [65]
M6 World Championship 2024 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Recorded a peak concurrent audience of approximately 4.13 million; received Best Hybrid Event at the Marketing Events Awards. [66]
M7 World Championship 2026 Jakarta, Indonesia Breaks the viewership records to become the most-watched mobile esports event of all time, according to Esports Charts.[67] [68]

Regional leagues and other tournaments

[edit]
Event Year Location Notes Ref.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Indonesia Season 8 2021 Bali, Indonesia Reached a peak concurrent audience of approximately 2.4 million, setting a viewership record for the league at the time. [69]
MLBB LIGA LATAM 2021 Online (South America) Marked the first major Mobile Legends tournament organized for the Latin American region. [70]
MLBB Women’s Invitational 2022 Jakarta, Indonesia Reported among the most-watched women’s esports tournaments at the time. [71]
MLBB Women’s Tournament at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games 2023 Phnom Penh, Cambodia Recorded a peak concurrent audience of approximately 1.37 million; noted for record viewership among women’s esports events. [72]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Moonton

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Moonton, officially known as Shanghai Moonton Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese multinational and publisher headquartered in , specializing in mobile games, , and related . Founded in 2014 by a core team of experienced developers, the company has grown into a global entity with more than 1,600 employees worldwide as of 2025, focusing on creating engaging multiplayer experiences for players across various platforms. In 2021, Moonton was acquired by , the parent company of , for approximately $4 billion through its gaming subsidiary Nuverse, marking a significant expansion of ByteDance's presence in the competitive mobile gaming sector. Following the acquisition, Moonton has operated with a degree of independence while benefiting from ByteDance's resources, though it faced strategic shifts including a new CEO appointment in and the shelving of potential sale plans. As of February 2026, ByteDance is in advanced talks to sell Moonton to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group in a deal valuing the studio at approximately $6 billion, according to a Financial Times report published on February 13, 2026; no agreement has been signed yet, and the deal remains in negotiation. The company is best known for its flagship title, , a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game launched in 2016 that has amassed over 1.5 billion downloads and fostered a thriving ecosystem with professional leagues and tournaments worldwide. Moonton's portfolio also includes other notable releases such as Magic Rush: Heroes, a strategic RPG, Mobile Legends: Adventure, an idle RPG spin-off, and Watcher of Realms, an action RPG, demonstrating its emphasis on diverse genres within mobile gaming. In recent years, amid geopolitical challenges including U.S. restrictions on Chinese tech firms, Moonton has adapted by transferring publishing operations for key titles like Mobile Legends to U.S.-based partners such as Skystone Games. This move underscores the company's commitment to sustaining global accessibility and growth in a rapidly evolving industry.

History

Founding and early development

Moonton, officially known as Shanghai Moonton Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2014 in , , with Justin Yuan as a key founder and CEO until 2024. The company was formed by a group of former employees, including Yuan and Xu Zhenhua, aiming to develop s for global audiences. From its inception, Moonton operated as a small startup focused exclusively on mobile game development, leveraging the growing market in to create accessible, engaging titles. In its early years, Moonton prioritized strategy and role-playing games suited for mobile platforms. The company's debut title, Magic Rush: Heroes, a game blending RPG elements, launched globally in April 2015 (excluding ) and received recognition as one of Play's Best Strategy Games of the year. This release marked Moonton's entry into the competitive mobile gaming space, building technical expertise and a foundation for future projects while achieving initial commercial success. Moonton's breakthrough came with the launch of (MLBB) in July , a (MOBA) game designed for short, 10- to 15-minute matches on mobile devices. Inspired by established PC MOBAs like and , MLBB adapted the genre's core mechanics—team-based strategy, hero selection, and lane-pushing objectives—for touch controls and optimized performance on lower-end hardware. The game quickly gained traction in , where it saw explosive user growth due to its accessibility and regional marketing efforts, amassing millions of downloads within months. Early challenges included scaling servers to handle surging player numbers and refining balance to retain engagement, while monetization relied primarily on in-app purchases for cosmetic items and hero enhancements, generating substantial revenue from a model. By late , MLBB had established Moonton as a rising force in mobile , paving the way for organized tournaments.

Key milestones and expansion

In June 2017, filed a against Moonton in the U.S. District for the Central District of California, accusing the company of related to similarities between and , including character designs, abilities, and gameplay mechanics. The suit sought damages and an injunction to halt distribution, leading to early legal scrutiny and temporary removal threats from app stores in affected regions, though the case was ultimately dismissed in 2018 on grounds of , shifting proceedings to . The dispute continued in and was resolved through a settlement in April 2024. By early 2018, Moonton's user base for had surpassed 100 million downloads on alone, reflecting rapid growth driven by its model and short match times appealing to mobile audiences. The game saw particularly strong adoption in , where it became a top title in , the , and , bolstered by localized marketing and community events that aligned with regional gaming cultures. This period marked a shift from domestic focus to broader accessibility, with registered accounts exceeding 200 million by April 2018. Moonton diversified its portfolio during this time, building on its 2016 release of Magic Rush: Heroes—a strategy RPG combining and hero collection—with ongoing expansion updates that introduced new heroes, events, and PvP features to sustain engagement through 2020. The company also experimented with survival-oriented gameplay elements, such as the large-scale integrated into , which featured island-based maps and to attract players seeking varied experiences beyond traditional MOBA formats. To penetrate global markets, Moonton established offices in key Southeast Asian hubs like , , , and by 2018, facilitating localized content including language translations and culturally tailored promotions. Partnerships with regional publishers and esports organizers enabled broader distribution and compliance with local regulations, while efforts to adapt the game for non-Chinese regions—such as optimizing for diverse devices and integrating regional payment systems—helped expand its reach to over 80 countries by 2020. These initiatives, including the launch of the first Professional League in Indonesia in 2017, underscored Moonton's commitment to international scaling.

Acquisition and integration with ByteDance

In March 2021, 's gaming subsidiary Nuverse announced the acquisition of Shanghai-based Moonton Technology for an undisclosed sum, with sources estimating the valuation at approximately $4 billion. The deal was completed shortly thereafter, integrating Moonton as a key asset in 's expanding gaming portfolio and positioning it to compete more aggressively in the mobile gaming sector, particularly in . Post-acquisition, Moonton retained operational independence while benefiting from 's resources, including synergies with platforms like for user acquisition and content distribution. In May 2024, appointed Zhang Yunfan as the new CEO of Moonton. The integration into the ByteDance ecosystem enabled Moonton to leverage TikTok's vast user base for cross-promotion of its flagship title, (MLBB), enhancing visibility in international markets beyond . This access facilitated targeted marketing campaigns and viral content strategies, contributing to sustained player growth for MLBB. By 2025, Moonton's workforce had expanded to over 1,600 employees worldwide, supporting operations across multiple regions and reflecting the scale of post-acquisition development. The company maintained offices in key locations including , , , , the , and , underscoring its focus on global talent and regional adaptation. Strategically, the acquisition prompted shifts toward deeper investment in esports and enhanced global publishing efforts under the Nuverse umbrella, with Moonton playing a central role in ByteDance's gaming initiatives. This included expanding MLBB's esports ecosystem through international tournaments, such as the 2025 Mid Season Cup featuring teams from 16 regions, and partnerships like the one with Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya for regional events. In January 2025, Moonton launched Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in mainland China, marking a significant entry into its home market and establishing the MLBB China Masters tournament. By mid-2025, rumors emerged of a potential merger between Nuverse and Moonton to streamline ByteDance's gaming operations into a unified entity, potentially preparing for further independence or an IPO. These moves emphasized long-term infrastructure building in esports, including new regional leagues and collaborations to broaden MLBB's competitive footprint. In February 2026, Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group was reported to be in advanced talks to acquire Moonton from ByteDance in a deal valuing the studio at approximately $6 billion. No agreement had been signed, and the negotiations remained ongoing.

Products and media

Video games

Moonton's video game portfolio primarily consists of mobile titles, with seven major releases as of 2025, centered on multiplayer and role-playing genres optimized for touch-screen devices. The company's flagship offering, , dominates its output and has driven the vast majority of its gaming revenue, exceeding 90% of total earnings. Other titles expand into strategy, idle, auto-battler, and action mechanics, though they contribute modestly compared to the core MOBA. All games adopt a structure, monetized via in-app purchases for cosmetics, heroes, and progression boosts, reflecting Moonton's focus on accessible, session-based mobile experiences. Notable releases also include Mobile Legends: Adventure, an idle RPG spin-off launched in 2019 that allows automated hero progression and team-building in the Mobile Legends universe; Magic Chess: Go Go, an auto-battler released in 2024 emphasizing strategic unit placement in multiplayer matches; Silver and Blood, a gothic RPG released on June 26, 2025, featuring blood-themed mechanics and hero collection; and Acecraft, a two-player glider launched on August 28, 2025, with nostalgic visuals and fast-paced combat. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, released on July 14, 2016, for Android and later for , is a 5v5 (MOBA) where teams of players control unique heroes to destroy the opponent's base while defending their own. emphasizes , including lane pushing, objective control, and ability-based combat, with matches typically lasting 10-20 minutes to suit mobile play. The hero roster has grown significantly, surpassing 130 characters by late 2025 through ongoing additions that introduce diverse roles like tanks, assassins, and supports. Revenue stems from a model featuring purchasable skins, emotes, and battle passes that offer exclusive rewards without pay-to-win elements, generating around $180 million globally in 2023. Among other notable releases, Magic Rush: Heroes, launched on April 6, 2015, blends RPG elements with gacha mechanics, allowing players to collect and upgrade heroes for real-time PvP battles and campaign progression on a . It incorporates skill-aiming controls for tactical depth in tower-defense-style encounters and multiplayer tournaments. Watcher of Realms, an idle RPG released on July 13, 2023, enables automatic hero progression in a fantasy setting with over 170 collectible characters across factions, focusing on strategic team-building and automated battles. However, the game encountered regulatory hurdles, leading to its shutdown in the US market in January 2025 amid broader restrictions on ByteDance-owned apps following the ban. Moonton's development emphasizes the Unity engine for cross-platform compatibility and efficient rendering, as seen in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang's upgrade to Unity 2017, which improved graphics and reduced load times by up to 60% while prioritizing low-end device performance. The studio maintains a rigorous mobile-first approach, testing for battery efficiency and touch responsiveness. For its core title, updates follow a seasonal cadence aligned with cycles, delivering balance patches, new heroes, and map adjustments every few months to sustain player engagement.

Animated series and adaptations

In 2021, Moonton partnered with the Philippine media company to produce and air the animated series Legends of Dawn: The Sacred Stone, an adaptation of (MLBB) lore focusing on the backstories and adventures of its heroes. The series follows characters such as the thief Claude and his partner Dexter as they journey through the Imperial Capital in search of the Sacred Stone, uniting heroes like Fanny, Tigreal, , Clint, and Alucard to battle evil forces, blending action with heartwarming lessons. Season 1 premiered on September 19, 2021, airing episodes on and A2Z Channel 11 in the , with additional distribution on platforms like WeTV, TV9 in , and Net Mediatama in . Expanding into live-action formats, Moonton co-produced the Malaysian comedy series Gamers Mangkuk with Astro in 2023, a live-action adaptation centered on the esports culture surrounding MLBB. The eight-episode series depicts the lives of five amateur gamers—Tam, Napi, Lee, Maya, and Theeban—as they form a team and strive to succeed in MLBB competitions, highlighting themes of friendship, rivalry, and perseverance in the scene. Produced by , it premiered on December 1, 2023, airing Fridays at 9 p.m. on Astro Premiere (Channel 410) and available for streaming on Astro GO. In July 2025, Moonton announced a new high-quality animated series for MLBB, partnering with The Little Black Book Studios (TLBBS) and Base Media to expand the game's universe. The production, leveraging Base Media's expertise in visual effects from projects like Ne Zha 2 and Marvel's Daredevil: , will feature epic adventures of MLBB heroes in the Land of Dawn, accompanied by a multi-faceted campaign and merchandise. Planned for premiere in 2026, further details on the title, platforms, and exact date are forthcoming. Beyond television, Moonton has developed comic series and webtoons to deepen engagement with MLBB's lore, distributed through official channels and platforms like Webtoon. These include story-driven comics such as Help! I Almost Got Killed in the Abyss!, Through the Dark Night, and hero-specific narratives like Twin Stars of Aspiration for Guinevere, exploring the game's fictional world of the Land of Dawn and its conflicts between light and dark. Fan-inspired webtoons on platforms like Webtoon further extend this universe, though official content remains anchored on Moonton's lore site.

Esports and tournaments

Moonton has established a prominent presence in the mobile esports ecosystem through its flagship game, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), by organizing professional leagues and international championships that emphasize competitive play in Southeast Asia and beyond. The company launched the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) in 2017, marking the inception of structured regional competitions following the inaugural MLBB Southeast Asia Cup. Initial MPL seasons were introduced in key Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, fostering talent development and fan engagement through regular splits and playoffs. These leagues operate under Moonton's direct oversight, with partnerships involving local organizers to ensure high production standards and accessibility for emerging professional teams. Complementing the regional MPL structure, Moonton hosts the annual M-series World Championships, the pinnacle of MLBB , which began in 2019 with M1 in and have since expanded in scale and prestige. The series culminates in a global showdown among top teams from MPL qualifiers, with prize pools reaching $1 million USD by the M6 event in 2024 and maintaining that level for M7, scheduled for January 2026 in , . This event, hosted at the Tennis Indoor Stadium Senayan, features 22 teams competing for the championship title and significant shares of the pool, such as $320,000 for the winner and $150,000 for the runner-up, underscoring Moonton's commitment to elevating prize incentives. Moonton's esports initiatives have achieved substantial global reach, with over 10 active regional tournaments across , , and emerging markets like the . The company partners with prominent organizations such as and RRQ Hoshi, which have dominated and contributed to international success, including multiple M-series appearances. Major events consistently draw massive audiences, with viewership exceeding 100 million hours for recent MPL leagues, such as Season 14 in 2024, and peak concurrent viewers surpassing 3 million for tournaments such as the 2025 Mid Season Cup (MSC). As the primary organizer, Moonton handles event production, rule-making, and anti-cheat measures for MPL and M-series competitions, while securing sponsorships from brands like Snapdragon Pro Series and to fund expansions. Following its 2021 acquisition by , Moonton has integrated streaming capabilities with platforms like , enhancing global distribution and enabling live broadcasts to reach broader audiences in regions beyond traditional hubs. This synergy has amplified promotional efforts, including slot allocations for M7 based on regional performance, further solidifying MLBB's status in competitive gaming.

Corporate affairs

Ownership and subsidiaries

Moonton Technology Co., Ltd. remains fully owned by Ltd. since its acquisition in March 2021 for approximately $4 billion, though ByteDance is in advanced talks to sell the company to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group in a deal valuing Moonton at approximately $6 billion, with no agreement signed as of February 2026. Following the acquisition, Moonton functions as a key within ByteDance's gaming division. In 2025, announced plans to integrate Nuverse into Moonton to streamline operations. As of October 2025, continued to pursue the merger of Nuverse and Moonton, aiming for independent operation of the gaming business. The company was co-founded in 2014 by Justin Yuan (also known as Yuan Jing) and Xu Zhenhua, with Yuan serving as CEO post-acquisition. In May 2024, replaced Yuan with Zhang Yunfan, a former executive at video game publisher who joined earlier that year, to lead Moonton and deepen alignment with 's executive team. Moonton manages its global expansion through dedicated overseas operations rather than formal subsidiaries, including Moonton Games Global for international and development. This structure supports offices in key regions such as (regional headquarters for ), (North American studio), and (Middle East and Europe hub), alongside its primary headquarters in , . Moonton's financial performance is anchored by revenue from (MLBB), its flagship mobile MOBA, which has generated over $1 billion in lifetime earnings and forms a core part of ByteDance's gaming revenue stream. In 2024, ByteDance's overall revenue reached an estimated $155 billion, with the gaming segment—including contributions from Moonton—experiencing notable growth amid the company's strategic focus on interactive entertainment.

Operations and global presence

Moonton is headquartered in , , at 11th Floor, No. 2138 Wanyuan Road, Minhang District. As of 2025, the company employs over 1,600 people worldwide, supporting its operations across multiple countries including , , , , the , , and regions in . The company's centers on game development, publishing, and , with dedicated departments for each area to drive innovation, distribution, and competitive ecosystems. This integrated approach enables Moonton to create, localize, and promote titles like while fostering global tournaments and community events. To support its international footprint, Moonton maintains localization teams that adapt content for over 20 languages, including English, , Indonesian, Thai, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Malay, ensuring accessibility for diverse player bases. The company also operates regional servers optimized for low-latency gameplay, particularly in , where Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has a strong user base. Under its arm, MOONTON Cares, the company implements diversity and inclusion programs aimed at promoting equity in and gaming, such as initiatives to uplift underrepresented groups including women and people with disabilities. These efforts align with broader community engagement in gaming education, including workshops, masterclasses like Guru Juara for teachers, and partnerships for student tournaments to build skills in digital management and . In 2017, Riot Games initiated a lawsuit against Moonton, alleging that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang infringed on intellectual property rights by copying character designs, game mechanics, and other assets from League of Legends. The dispute spanned multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and Indonesia, and lasted nearly seven years, with Riot seeking damages and an injunction against Moonton's game. In April 2024, the parties reached a global settlement, with Riot withdrawing all claims; the terms remained undisclosed, though prior court proceedings had prompted some asset modifications in Mobile Legends during the litigation. In January 2025, Moonton shut down its mobile RPG Watcher of Realms in the United States following regulatory actions tied to the U.S. ban on , which impacted ByteDance-owned apps and subsidiaries like Nuverse (Moonton's publishing arm). The closure affected U.S. servers immediately, with Moonton issuing full refunds for recent in-app purchases but providing no timeline for resumption, leading to player backlash over abrupt access loss. Moonton's esports operations faced scrutiny in 2025 over enforcement of competitive rules, particularly suspensions for players streaming rival titles. For instance, in June 2025, North American team S8UL Esports was disqualified from the Mid-Season Cup (MSC 2025) after players MobaZane and violated tournament guidelines by streaming , a competing MOBA from ; this breach led to their indefinite suspensions and the team's slot reassignment to runner-up Area 77. The incident drew accusations of inconsistent rule application and regional bias, with critics arguing Moonton favored Southeast Asian circuits over emerging North American ones in penalty severity and support. Earlier, in 2021, rumors circulated that Moonton imposed mandatory exclusivity contracts on Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) organizations, barring them from fielding teams in rival MOBAs like : Wild Rift. Moonton clarified that such clauses were optional and not enforced universally, resolving concerns after esports groups like and voiced potential impacts on their multi-game rosters.

References

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  2. https://en.moonton.com/
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  5. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-13/bytedance-shelves-sale-of-moonton-game-studio-picks-new-chief
  6. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bytedance-appoints-ceo-moonton-studio-093000299.html
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  9. https://en.moonton.com/games/index.html
  10. https://esportsinsider.com/2025/03/mobile-legends-bang-bang-us-publisher-skystone
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  19. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1897021507027280&id=1212826968780074&set=a.1213864538676317
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  21. https://mobile-legends.fandom.com/wiki/Survival
  22. https://www.marketingdive.com/news/bytedance-acquires-mobile-game-developer-moonton-in-deal-reportedly-valued/597301/
  23. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/record-breaking-16-regions-vie-mlbb-mid-season-cup-esports-vzlvf
  24. https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/bytedances-gaming-unit-moonton-deepens-alliance-with-saudi-arabias-qiddiya-on-esports-events
  25. https://technode.com/2025/01/10/moonton-to-launch-mobile-legends-bang-bang-in-china-on-january-23/
  26. https://liquipedia.net/mobilelegends/MLBB_China_Masters/2025
  27. https://kr-asia.com/bytedance-plots-new-game-plan-with-rumored-nuverse-moonton-merger
  28. https://asia.nikkei.com/business/media-entertainment/bytedance-to-launch-mobile-legends-game-in-china-to-challenge-tencent
  29. https://game8.co/articles/release-dates/silver-and-blood-release-date-and-time
  30. https://en.moonton.com/news/221.html
  31. https://game8.co/articles/release-dates/mobile-legends-bang-bang-release-date
  32. https://esportsinsider.com/mobile-legends-tier-list-best-mlbb-heroes
  33. https://digital-trans.asia/th/news-and-blogs/post/mobile-legends-revenue-2023-mlbbs-growth-and-peak
  34. https://www.oneesports.gg/mobile-legends/mobile-legends-bang-bang-is-getting-an-engine-update/
  35. https://en.moonton.com/news/158.html
  36. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/06/21/animated-series-on-mobile-legends-to-air-on-abs-cbn
  37. https://corporate.abs-cbn.com/newsroom/news-releases/2021/9/13/legends-of-dawn-the-sacred-stone?lang=en
  38. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mobile-legends-dev-moonton-partners-with-astro-to-produce-malaysian-comedy-series-gamers-mangkuk-055846739.html
  39. https://www.insidesport.in/gaming/astro-originals-introduces-1st-mlbb-premium-tv-series-gamers-mangkuk/
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30984546/
  41. https://sea.ign.com/entertainment/208982/news/explores-the-lives-of-amateur-esports-players-in-new-comedy-series-gamers-mangkuk
  42. https://en.moonton.com/news/224.html
  43. https://www.kron4.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/826247182/moonton-games-partners-the-little-black-book-studios-and-base-media-to-develop-animated-series-for-mobile-legends/
  44. https://kidscreen.com/2025/07/21/base-media-to-turn-mobile-legends-bang-bang-into-an-animated-series/
  45. https://lore.mobilelegends.com/
  46. https://play.mobilelegends.com/lore/album
  47. https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/mobile-legend-stories/list?title_no=215371
  48. https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/legends-of-dawn-mobile-legends-bang-bang/list?title_no=656625
  49. https://liquipedia.net/mobilelegends/Mobile_Legends_Professional_League
  50. https://en.moonton.com/news/136.html
  51. https://corporate.astro.com.my/mediaroom-releases/moonton-egg-network-hog-esports-team-up-to-bring-mpl-myanmar-to-new-heights
  52. https://liquipedia.net/mobilelegends/M_World_Championship
  53. https://liquipedia.net/mobilelegends/M7_World_Championship
  54. https://www.spin.ph/esports/m7-world-championship-brings-in-1m-usd-prize-pool-once-more-a7981-20251031
  55. https://escharts.com/teams/mobile-legends/evos-glory
  56. https://esportsradar.gg/mobile-legends-sets-new-esports-world-cup-viewership-record/
  57. https://www.eslfaceitgroup.com/press/snapdragon-pro-series-partners-with-moonton-games-for-global-mobile-legends-bang-bang-esports-tournaments/
  58. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bytedance-backed-game-mobile-legends-093000230.html
  59. https://en.moonton.com/news/236.html
  60. https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3259711800570114
  61. https://news.futunn.com/en/post/64549306/in-depth-industry-research-can-zhang-yiming-recreate-a-steam
  62. https://sacra.com/c/bytedance/
  63. https://cn.linkedin.com/company/moontongames
  64. https://www.41nbc.com/community-prepares-students-return/?s-news-1039760-2025-10-15-moonton-games-expands-global-esports-ecosystem-publishing
  65. https://www.koreantopik.com/2017/01/l2g01-grammar-looks-likes-seems-like.html?s-news-1039388-2025-10-15-moonton-games-expands-global-esports-publishing-initiatives
  66. https://apps.apple.com/kh/app/mobile-legends-bang-bang/id1160056295
  67. https://www.reddit.com/r/MobileLegendsGame/comments/1cl83km/mlbb_all_servers_list/
  68. https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/technology/gaming/moonton-cares
  69. https://www.philstar.com/about-us/sports/2023/12/23/2320945/moonton-pushes-esports-gaming-inclusivity-csr-arm
  70. https://en.moonton.com/news/241.html
  71. https://en.moonton.com/news/77.html
  72. https://www.techdirt.com/2024/04/02/riot-games-moonton-settle-copyright-dispute-after-7-years-of-drama/
  73. https://www.oneesports.gg/mobile-legends/moonton-games-riot-games-lawsuit/
  74. https://mobilegamer.biz/us-tiktok-ban-pulls-marvel-snap-plus-other-nuverse-and-moonton-games-offline/
  75. https://massivelyop.com/2025/01/19/the-us-tiktok-ban-took-out-mobile-ccg-marvel-snap-and-mobile-rpg-watcher-of-realms/
  76. https://esportsinsider.com/2025/07/moonton-games-s8ul-esports-msc-disqualification-mlbb
  77. https://www.spin.ph/esports/mobazane-hoon-s8ul-esports-disqualified-from-msc-2025-a4858-20250701
  78. https://dotesports.com/mobile/news/moonton-reportedly-using-optional-exclusivity-clause-prevent-mpl-orgs-wild-rift-teams
  79. https://www.spin.ph/esports/moonton-s-exclusivity-contract-is-only-optional-source-a4858-20210710
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