There had been rumors coming up claiming that Moonton, developer of the popular mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), have engaged in exclusivity contract with a couple of esports organizations. A supposed deal that has sparked controversy online.
It’s said that the Moonton exclusivity deal will require esports organizations to drop their League of Legends: Wild Rift rosters to compete on MLBB events.
Several Esports orgs including @bigetronesports may be required to release their Wild Rift rosters as a result of signing an exclusivity contract with Moonton, restricting them to be able to compete only in @MobileLegendsOL and thus are denied the right to field a #WildRift team
— Wild Rift Esports News (@WRCompetitive) July 8, 2021
As per an initial report from Wildrift Esports News, several esports organizations like Bigetron Esports, the leading esports org in Indonesia, have been allegedly required by Moontoon to drop their Wild Rift rosters after signing an exclusivity deal with MLBB.
This means that Bigetron and other esports groups that signed the exclusivity deal can only play MLBB tournaments and are forbidden to compete with LoL Wild Rift.
In a Twitter post, Ban “ChisinX” Chee, Wild Rift Esports Manager for Riot Games SEA, said that they will not restrict esports org from competing from other mobile esports events.
Been receiving multiple enquiries regarding WR teams in Indonesia. We would like to reassure our players that Riot SEA does not restrict WR SEA esports teams from participating in other mobile esports leagues, & we empower our teams to exercise freedom of choice in this space.
— Ban “ChisinX” Chee (@chisinRPL) July 8, 2021
John Yao, CEO of Team Secret, also shared his thoughts about the issue in a Facebook post:
Besides Bigetron Esports, other allegedly part of the exclusivity contract includes Geek Fam, Smart Omega, Onic Esports, Alter Ego, Nexplay Esports, RRQ, and Evos Esports.
Moonton is yet to release an official statement regarding the issue.
Via: Inquirer.net