M-League

What M-League does

M-League (legal entity M-League Ltd., headquartered at 72 Circular Road, Singapore) is a multi-brand gaming platform company originally founded in 2018 as Mobile Premier League (MPL). It operates four business lines: MPL, India's largest skill-gaming platform serving 120M+ users with real-money tournaments across sports, puzzles, chess, and casual games; GameDuell, a Berlin-based card and board game studio acquired in February 2022 serving 100M+ European players; Blast+, a Free-to-Play publishing arm launched in November 2024 that provides localization, marketing, live operations, payments, and analytics to global and indie developers targeting India; and Mayhem Studios, a majority-owned AAA game development subsidiary developing Underworld Gang Wars (UGW), India's first AAA battle royale.

The underlying technology stack is a multi-platform gaming ecosystem spanning iOS, Android, and web, supporting 90+ games across 16+ countries and seven languages. Core technical infrastructure includes a seven-layer security architecture (ISO/IEC 27001:2013, AIGF, iTech Labs No-Bot and RNG, SHIELD Trust at 95.95% trust score, Arthur D. Little compliance certification, RedHuntLabs security audits), GPS-based collusion prevention, machine-learning fraud detection, dynamic player-allocation matchmaking, and KYC verification. GameDuell contributes a cross-platform card/board game engine serving seven languages, while Mayhem Studios is developing a proprietary AAA battle royale engine with culturally Indian content (16 hotspots, traditional weapons, first-person perspective).

M-League generates revenue primarily through transaction-based entry fees on skill-gaming tournaments (where India derives roughly 80% of total gaming revenue from skill gaming), freemium in-app purchases on GameDuell card/board games (approximately 70% of GameDuell revenue is now F2P), marketplace/publishing commissions through Blast+, planned freemium monetization on UGW, esports sponsorship and tournament fees, and BCCI-licensed merchandise sales through MPL Sports. Go-to-market combines product-led growth (self-serve mobile apps), community-led expansion (influencer partnerships with streamers like Dynamo, Mortal, and Tanmay Bhat; esports tournaments), enterprise field sales (BCCI, IOA, game developers via Blast+), and event-driven international expansion (US, Europe via M&A, Africa via Carry1st partnership). Over 40% of revenue is generated internationally.

Name

M-League

Legal name

M-League Ltd.

Website

https://mleague.gg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

M-League operates India's most diversified gaming platform, combining skill-gaming tournaments (MPL, 120M+ users), European card/board games (GameDuell, 100M+ players), F2P publishing for global developers (Blast+), and AAA game development (Mayhem Studios) across 16+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Gaming Platform

NAICS

Gambling Industries (7132), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Game Aggregation, Content Distribution & RGS (Remote Game Servers) (MPAEAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

iGaming Platform Providers (Turnkey/Casino & Sportsbook Platforms) (MPAEAKAA), Professional Esports Leagues & Circuits (MPAFADAA), Amateur/Grassroots Esports Leagues & Community Tournaments (MPAFADAL)

Keywords

• Skill-based gaming platform
• Mobile esports tournaments
• Free-to-play publishing
• Card and board games
• AAA game development

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Skill Gaming Tournaments: MPL operates real-money skill gaming tournaments where users pay entry fees to compete. Revenue generated from tournament entry fees (transaction-based), with games spanning sports, puzzles, chess, card games, and casual games. Approximately 80% of India's total gaming revenues come from skill gaming.
2. Free-to-Play Gaming (GameDuell): GameDuell generates approximately 70% of revenue from free-to-play games. Cross-platform card and board games (Skat, Belote, Romme) monetize through in-app purchases and premium content. GameDuell serves 100M+ players globally.
3. Free-to-Play Publishing (Blast+): Blast+ publishing arm brings global and indie F2P games to India, handling localization, marketing, live operations, payment solutions, and customer service for third-party developers. Revenue share or publishing fees from developers.
4. AAA Game Development (Mayhem Studios): Mayhem Studios developing Underworld Gang Wars (UGW), India's first AAA battle royale. Will monetize through free-to-play model with in-app purchases, targeting domestic and global markets.
5. Esports Tournaments: Organized esports competitions including MPL Indian Chess Tour ($100,000 prize pool), College Premier League, and various branded tournaments. Revenue from entry fees, sponsorships, and media rights.
6. Sports Sponsorships and Merchandise: MPL Sports brand generates revenue through official merchandise sales (athleisure wear, sports merchandise, licensed Team India products) via BCCI partnership. Three-year kit sponsorship agreement (2020-2023).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

M-League is a multi-brand gaming platform company operating MPL for skill-based mobile gaming tournaments with real-money stakes, GameDuell for community card and board games in Europe, Blast+ as a free-to-play publishing arm for game developers targeting India, and Mayhem Studios developing India's first AAA battle royale game (Underworld Gang Wars). The company serves 170 million+ registered users across 16+ countries with a portfolio of 90+ games spanning sports, puzzles, chess, card games, and casual genres.

Product overview

M-League is India's premier platform company for gaming, operating as a multi-brand portfolio with four distinct divisions: MPL (Mobile Premier League) as the core skill-gaming platform serving 120+ million users; GameDuell as the acquired European card and board game studio now focused on free-to-play games; Blast+ as the dedicated F2P publishing arm for India; and Mayhem Studios as the AAA game development subsidiary creating Underworld Gang Wars. The company offers skill-based gaming, Free-to-Play publishing, and AAA game development, spanning over 90 games across 16+ countries with over 40% revenue from international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPL Gaming: Leading skill gaming platform in India with over 120 million users
• Blast+
• Underworld Gang Wars (UGW)
• MPL Sports

Products and services

• MPL (Mobile Premier League) India's largest skill-gaming platform offering tournaments across sports, puzzles, and other skill-based games with real-money stakes. Trusted by over 120 million users with reach extending to the United States and Nigeria.
• GameDuell Berlin-based card and board game studio with over two decades of experience, now the second-largest free-to-play gaming studio in Europe. Popular titles include Skat, Belote, and Romme, serving 100 million+ players globally via web and mobile.
• Blast+ M-League's dedicated Free-to-Play publishing arm that helps global and indie game developers publish and scale their games in India. Offers localisation, marketing, live operations, payment solutions, data analytics, and customer service. Team includes veterans from EA, Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, Wargaming, and Scopely.
• Underworld Gang Wars (UGW) India's first Indian-made AAA battle royale game developed by Mayhem Studios, set in a distinctively Indian context featuring 16 unique hotspots, two rival gangs (The Velvets and The Bhokal Toli), and culturally relevant weapons including traditional Indian weaponry. First-person perspective gameplay with closed beta completed in May 2024.
• MPL Sports (Official Team India Merchandise) Official BCCI-licensed Team India merchandise including athleisure wear, jerseys, and cricket equipment sold via online and offline distribution at affordable prices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth: 22% increase to $130M in FY24
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Blast+coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 7 November 2024Blast+ is M-League's dedicated Free-to-Play publishing arm launched November 2024. Helps global and indie game developers publish and scale games in India with complete ecosystem including localization, marketing, live operations, payment solutions, and customer service. Team includes veterans from EA, Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, Wargaming, and Scopely.
• VridhcareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023NGO partner for Gamers for Dementia Awareness campaign. Conducts on-ground events with elderly populations, distributes Get Active kits promoting healthy lifestyle.
• ElderAidminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023Partner in GFDA campaign focused on improving lives of senior citizens and promoting active lifestyle for cognitive health.
• EPWA (Egamers and Players Welfare Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023Represents online gamers/esports players lending voice to drive dementia awareness within gaming community.
• Carry1stcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership with Carry1st, Africa's leading gaming company, for M-League's market entry into Africa. Carry1st provides local publishing, payments, and distribution expertise for African gaming market.
• Dementia India Alliance (DIA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for Gamers for Dementia Awareness (GFDA) campaign to rally millions of gamers for dementia awareness. Includes coalition with Vridhcare, Kaha Mind, EPWA, and ElderAid.
• Missing Link TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2022Partnership with Missing Link Trust for #SaveOurMissingGirls campaign and MISSING game - world's first anti-trafficking game. Campaign commemorates UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Game allows players to experience trafficking victim's perspective to raise awareness about human trafficking.
• SHIELDcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2022Partnership with global risk intelligence company SHIELD to enhance user trust and safety. SHIELD provides real-time risk intelligence to identify and block fraudulent gamers immediately. Partnership strengthened MPL's anti-fraud capabilities using SHIELD's device intelligence and risk assessment technology.
• GameDuellcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 28 February 2022M-League acquired Berlin-based GameDuell, one of Europe's most experienced games studios and global leader in community card and board games. GameDuell operates 40+ casual online skill games in seven languages. Post-acquisition, M-League has presence across Europe, Asia, and North America. GameDuell transformed from primarily web-based skill gaming to cross-platform F2P model with 70% of revenue now from free-to-play games.
• Mayhem StudioscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2022Mayhem Studios operates as M-League's AAA game development subsidiary. Initially incubated under MPL, spun off in 2023 with investments from Peak XV, Steadview Capital, Truecaller, Hashed Emergent. M-League remains majority investor. Developing Underworld Gang Wars - India's first AAA battle royale game with 7.5M+ pre-registrations.
• Green Pledge / UN SDG 13minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022GameDuell committed to Green Pledge and UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) as part of Leaders for Climate Action initiative. Goal to achieve 45% CO2 reduction between 2010-2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
• Play Magnus GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2021Partnership with Play Magnus Group (founded by World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen) to launch MPL Indian Chess Tour - first regional expansion of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. $100,000 prize pool with pathway for Indian players to qualify for elite global tour. Tournament format: four online tournaments followed by final.
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2021MPL Sports Foundation became Principal Partner for Indian contingent at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. MPL Sports named official kit partner for Indian contingents. Partnership aims to democratize opportunities in sports and esports for Indian youth.
• Kaha MindminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2021Mental wellness program powered by Kaha Mind providing MPL's partners with tools and resources for mental health. Includes one-on-one virtual therapy sessions with licensed professionals, workshops on resilience and stress management, and Kaha Konversations for practical coping skills.
• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 November 2020MPL Sports named Official Kit Sponsor and merchandise partner for Indian Cricket Team. Three-year agreement (November 2020 - December 2023) covering senior men, women, and Under-19 teams. MPL Sports sells licensed Team India merchandise including jerseys, athleisure wear, and cricket equipment.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Zupee: India's leading Ludo-based skill gaming platform. Directly competes with MPL in the real-money casual gaming segment with strong user growth and similar demographic focus.
• Krafton: South Korean publisher of PUBG/BGMI, the dominant battle royale in India. Directly competes with Mayhem Studios' Underworld Gang Wars for the Indian AAA/battle royale audience and gaming wallet share.
• Dream11: India's largest fantasy sports and skill gaming platform with hundreds of millions of users. Directly competes with MPL in real-money skill gaming tournaments across sports and other formats.
• Adda52: India's largest online rummy platform. Direct competitor in India's real-money skill gaming segment, particularly for card games where it overlaps with MPL's tournament-based card offerings.
• Skillz: US-based mobile esports platform that pioneered real-money skill-based mobile gaming tournaments. Closest international peer with an essentially identical skill-tournament business model.
• WinZO: India-based skill gaming platform offering 100+ games in social and competitive formats. Directly competes with MPL in real-money mobile skill gaming with similar tournament-based monetization.
• Games24x7: Indian multi-game platform operating My11Circle (fantasy sports) and other casual gaming formats. Direct competitor in India's real-money gaming market with overlapping skill gaming offerings.
• Junglee Games (Flutter Entertainment): India-focused skill gaming subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment. Directly competes with MPL in rummy, fantasy, and other skill gaming verticals with the backing of a global gaming parent.

Broad incumbents

• Nazara Technologies: India's first publicly listed gaming company with a diversified portfolio across mobile games, esports, and gamified learning. Broader incumbent with overlapping interest in the Indian gaming market and public-market valuation benchmark.

Emerging players

• Carry1st: Africa's leading gaming company and M-League's distribution partner for the African market. Comparable emerging player serving casual and skill gaming in African markets with a similar publishing and localization model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MLeagueHQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiMmRqhM2gYcEaW5aX2Jy-A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mleague

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about M-League