Moonton
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMinhang, China
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
Moonton firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Moonton
- Legal name
- Shanghai Moonton Technology Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://moonton.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Moonton industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Gaming
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores (BPAMAKAB)
Keywords
Where Moonton is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minhang
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Moonton business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- In-Game Purchases: Free-to-play model generating revenue through in-game purchases including character skins, battle passes, in-game currency, and cosmetic items. Major revenue driver across 1.5 billion installs and 110 million MAU base.
- Esports Tournament Prize Pools: Prize pools from flagship tournaments including M7 World Championship ($1 million), Mid Season Cup ($3 million combined with MWI), Esports Nations Cup ($20 million prize pool), and regional MPL competitions
- Esports Sponsorships and Partnerships: Brand partnerships and sponsorships with global brands including Red Bull, realme, Visa, McDonald's, OSIM for tournament naming rights, brand integration, and event activations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free core gameplay with optional in-game purchases |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Esports tournament prize pools |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Moonton product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Moonton develops, publishes, and operates mobile games with a primary focus on multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and competitive strategy titles. Its flagship product Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has accumulated over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million monthly active users. The company also operates a comprehensive global esports ecosystem including professional leagues and international tournaments across more than 70 regions, organized into five global regions (Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Europe Middle East and Africa, East Asia, and Americas).
Product overview
MOONTON Games is an international mobile gaming company that pioneered MOBA gaming with a portfolio of seven distinct mobile games. The core offering centers on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), a MOBA with 1.5 billion installs and 110 million MAU, complemented by Magic Chess: Go Go (auto battler strategy game), ACECRAFT (hand-drawn co-op shooter), Silver and Blood (gothic vampire RPG), Watcher of Realms (fantasy RPG), Mobile Legends: Adventure (hero collection), and Magic Rush: Heroes (tower defense RPG). The company also operates a comprehensive esports ecosystem anchored by the M Series World Championship, Mid Season Cup, regional MPL leagues, and the newly established five-region esports structure covering SEA, EECA, EMEA, EA, and AMER.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: Multiplayer online tactical competitive game - the company's flagship MOBA title with over 1.5 billion installations globally
- Magic Chess: Go Go
- Silver and Blood
- Watcher of Realms
- Mobile Legends: Adventure
- Magic Rush: Heroes
- ACECRAFT
Products and services
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) mobile game and Moonton's flagship title with over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million monthly active users. It serves as the foundation of the MLBB esports ecosystem including M Series World Championships, Mid Season Cup, and regional MPL leagues.
- Magic Chess: Go Go (MCGG) Free-to-play multiplayer strategy auto battler game set in the MLBB universe, featuring 8-player PvP combat where players command MLBB Heroes as Commanders to create strategic forces.
- Silver and Blood A gothic beauty vampire RPG game featuring dark fantasy themes and character-driven narrative gameplay.
- ACECRAFT The world's first hand-drawn co-op vertical shooter mobile game featuring 1930s-inspired animation with two-player cooperative gameplay against bullet-hell enemies.
- Watcher of Realms RPG game featuring fantasy adventure gameplay with hero collection and strategic combat mechanics.
- Mobile Legends: Adventure Adventure game set in the Mobile Legends universe featuring RPG progression and hero collection gameplay.
- Magic Rush: Heroes Hybrid tower defense and role-playing strategy game featuring hero collection and team-based combat.
- MLBB Esports Ecosystem Comprehensive esports ecosystem including M Series World Championship, Mid Season Cup (MSC), MLBB Women's International (MWI), regional MPL leagues, and community tournaments spanning over 70 regions organized into five global regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million monthly active users globally
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Moonton
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Moonton technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Moonton partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Portuguese Esports Federation (FPDE)coreFPDE and MOONTON Games renewed their official partnership aligned with Portugal's Esports Vision 2030. MLBB will feature as flagship title at Portuguese Esports Cup 2026. The 2025 edition generated 1.5 million impressions and €170,000 in media value. Partnership supports Portugal's goal to become European MLBB hub.
- Red BullcoreRed Bull became the official partner for the M7 World Championship, marking Red Bull's first partnership with MLBB's flagship tournament. The partnership includes live performances, gaming zones, and interactive activations in Indonesia to energize the esports experience.
- Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF)flagshipEWCF signed agreements with Moonton Games to include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as first confirmed title at inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MLBB will also return to Esports World Cup with MSC and MWI featuring combined USD 3.5 million prize pool.
- Azerbaijan Esports Federation (AZESF)coreAZESF and MOONTON Games announced strategic partnership to develop local MLBB ecosystem in Azerbaijan. First step includes hosting Azerbaijan's inaugural official MLBB tournament in September 2025. Federation will integrate MLBB into its University Esports Circuit and establish monthly community cups and campus tournaments.
- National University LagunacoreMOONTON Games and National University Laguna formed a partnership to establish esports and gaming programs for students. The MOU formalizes cooperation for community events, curriculum development, immersion, internships, and researcher-student opportunities. First programs include esports and gaming journalism workshops.
- Garudaku AcademycoreMOONTON Cares partnered with Garudaku Academy (official esports academy recognized by Indonesian Esports Executive Board PBESI) to advance Indonesian esports and improve welfare of students in rural schools. Program provides esports extracurricular activities for 420 students in 14 schools across East Java and West Java.
- Hope CupcoreMOONTON Cares collaborated with Hope Cup and Garudaku Academy to develop Indonesian esports potential through a program to increase competency of talents from education. Hope Cup organizer Daniel Santoso leads initiative supporting sportsmanship and charity through MLBB Esports.
- PBESI (Indonesian Esports Executive Board)corePBESI supports the MOONTON Cares, Hope Cup, and Garudaku Academy collaboration to develop esports talent in Indonesian schools. PBESI Secretary General emphasized importance of mentality and enthusiasm to defend the country alongside technical skills.
- ESIC (Esports Integrity Commission)coreESIC and MOONTON Games introduced Integrity Compliance Infrastructure for third-party MLBB tournament licensing, establishing standards for tournament integrity and anti-corruption measures across the MLBB esports ecosystem.
- realmecorerealme served as strategic partner for the M7 World Championship Grand Finals, presenting the exclusive realme FMVP Trophy and conducting brand integration through a dynamic pop-up booth featuring product showcases and fan engagement activities.
- VisacoreVisa partnered with MLBB esports events including M7 World Championship, highlighting the growing commercial appeal of MLBB Esports and presence of global brands.
- McDonald's SingaporeminorMcDonald's Singapore returned as Presenting Sponsor for MPL Singapore Seasons 7 and 8, with an expanded partnership arrangement.
- *SCAPEminor*SCAPE debuted as Youth Partner for MPL Singapore Season 7, providing expertise in youth and leadership development to host offline activations and programs during playoffs.
- OSIMminorOSIM continued its longstanding partnership with MPL Singapore as Partner in Esports, now in its fifth season.
- Esports Nations Cup 2026flagshipMLBB confirmed as first title at Esports Nations Cup 2026 (November 2-29, 2026, in Riyadh). 32 national teams will compete with $45 million total commitment including $20 million prize pool, $5 million club release incentives, and $20 million development fund.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Moonton competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tencent Games: Tencent is the world's largest video game publisher and operates Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor — the closest direct competitors to MLBB in the mobile MOBA space. Both companies compete head-to-head for global mobile esports audiences, sponsorship dollars, and developer talent.
- Riot Games: Riot Games (owned by Tencent) develops League of Legends: Wild Rift, the leading Western mobile MOBA, and operates a global esports ecosystem (LoL Esports, Valorant Champions Tour). Directly comparable to Moonton's MOBA + global esports operating model.
- Garena (Sea Limited): Sea Limited's Garena division publishes Free Fire — one of the most popular mobile battle royale games with massive SEA share — and operates its own esports ecosystem. Competes head-to-head with Moonton for mobile esports audiences across Southeast Asia.
- Supercell: Supercell (owned by Tencent) publishes Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and other mobile hits with strong competitive ecosystems. Comparable as a mobile-first game studio with live-service titles and competitive scene infrastructure at global scale.
- KRAFTON: KRAFTON publishes PUBG Mobile and BGMI — leading mobile battle royale titles with extensive esports ecosystems across Asia. Comparable in mobile esports scale, tournament organization, and emerging-market focus.
Broad incumbents
- miHoYo / HoYoverse: miHoYo/HoYoverse publishes Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Honkai Impact 3rd — globally successful mobile and cross-platform titles. Comparable as a top-tier mobile game publisher with strong global reach and live-service monetization.
- NetEase Games: NetEase is one of China's largest video game publishers and operates major mobile titles including Identity V and Knives Out. Comparable as a Chinese-headquartered mobile game publisher with global ambitions and a diversified portfolio.
- Activision Blizzard King: Activision Blizzard's King division operates Candy Crush and Call of Duty: Mobile, both massive mobile titles with global reach. Comparable as a global mobile game publisher at scale with proven live-service monetization.
- ByteDance / Nuverse: ByteDance's Nuverse gaming division was Moonton's previous parent (2021 acquisition for ~$4B). Comparable as a Chinese mobile gaming operator with global ambitions and prior direct ownership of Moonton itself.
Emerging players
- Niantic: Niantic publishes Pokémon GO and other mobile games with live-service and community-driven engagement models. Comparable as a mobile-first game publisher with global live-service operations, though focused on location-based gameplay rather than MOBA/esports.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Moonton social profiles
Digital presenceMoonton financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Moonton leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Moonton subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Moonton funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Moonton M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Moonton
What does Moonton do?
Moonton develops, publishes, and operates mobile games with a primary focus on multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and competitive strategy titles. Its flagship product Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has accumulated over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million monthly active users. The company also operates a comprehensive global esports ecosystem including professional leagues and international tournaments across more than 70 regions, organized into five global regions (Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Europe Middle East and Africa, East Asia, and Americas).
Is Moonton a public or private company?
Moonton is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Moonton founded?
Moonton was founded in 2014. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Moonton based?
Moonton is headquartered in Minhang, China, in the Asia region.
How does Moonton make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. In-Game Purchases are the primary driver. The others are esports Tournament Prize Pools and esports Sponsorships and Partnerships.
Who are Moonton's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tencent Games, Riot Games, Garena (Sea Limited), Supercell and KRAFTON. Broad incumbents are miHoYo / HoYoverse, NetEase Games, Activision Blizzard King and ByteDance / Nuverse. Niantic is listed as an emerging player.
Does Moonton have an API?
No public API is recorded for Moonton.
What industry is Moonton in?
Moonton's product category is Mobile Gaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAKAB, Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores. Its SIC code is 7990.