Smart Communications has forged a strategic partnership with Dark League Studios (DLS), a premier esports event management and production team, to boost the growth of esports in the Philippines and empower aspiring gamers to reach their full potential.
The partnership will enable Smart to enhance its Smart GIGA Arena platform, the country’s first all-in-one esports platform that offers tournament experience to amateur players of popular games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), Call of Duty Mobile (CODM), Player’s Unknown Battleground (PUBG), and League of Legends Wild Rift (LOL).
Smart GIGA Arena, which was launched in 2022, has hosted over 2 million users in nearly 1,000 tournaments, offering more than P4.2 million in prizes.
With the help of Dark League Studios, Smart aims to increase the number of tournaments, onboard more game developers, and provide more consumer-centric activities within the platform.
Smart and DLS will also collaborate with the Philippine Esports Organization (PeSo), the official governing body of esports in the country, to adopt industry best practices and maintain the highest standards of integrity.
Through this collaboration, Smart and DLS hope to create more opportunities for aspiring Filipino gamers to showcase and develop their skills as they aspire to become part of Team SIBOL, the national esports team.
“Our partnership with DLS is in line with our commitment to provide the best gaming experience to Filipinos. We at Smart have always believed in the ability of Filipinos to dominate sports of all kinds – including esports. Through our collaboration with DLS, we hope to empower more aspiring esports athletes to level up their gameplay and compete in a much bigger arena,” said Al S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc and Smart Communications President and CEO.
“We share Smart’s vision for Philippine esports, and we are excited to leverage our expertise and experience in engaging the gaming community and inspiring Filipino gamers to fulfill their dream,” said Alfrancis Chua, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of Dark League Studios.
“We are glad to see the support of Smart to elevate the industry and align our initiatives in favor of the sport. This will help generate more opportunities for aspiring Filipino gamers to showcase and develop their skills as they aspire to become the next generation of Team SIBOL athletes,” said Marlon Marcelo, Executive Director of the Philippine Esports Organization.
As of end-March 2023, Smart’s 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G network covers 97% of the country’s population.
To learn more about Smart’s esports programs and efforts and services, visit its official website at smart.com.ph.
