Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), a subsidiary of PLDT, has announced a partnership with Dark League Studios (DLS), an Esports event management and production team, to further develop the Esports scene in the Philippines. The collaboration aims to empower aspiring gamers and promote the growth of Esports from grassroots to professional levels, ultimately producing national athletes.
One of the key initiatives resulting from this partnership is the enhancement of the Smart GIGA Arena, the first all-in-one Esports platform in the country. Smart and DLS will work together to offer more exciting and immersive gaming experiences through the platform, hosting tournaments for popular games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty Mobile, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and League of Legends Wild Rift.
By leveraging their combined resources, Smart and DLS plan to expand the GIGA Arena, including increasing the number of tournaments and collaborating with game developers to provide a consumer-centric experience. Since its launch in 2022, the Smart GIGA Arena has already attracted over 2 million users and distributed more than PHP 4.2 million in prizes through nearly 1,000 tournaments.
Recognizing the importance of maintaining integrity and adopting industry best practices, Smart and DLS have committed to working closely with the Philippine Esports Organization (PeSo). This collaboration will ensure that the Esports ecosystem in the Philippines adheres to the highest standards and continues to evolve.
Both Smart and DLS are dedicated to engaging more Filipino gamers by introducing new tournaments and enhancing features on the GIGA Arena platform. The partnership reflects Smart’s commitment to delivering the best gaming experience to Filipinos and empowering them to excel in Esports. Al S. Panlilio, the President and CEO of PLDT Inc and Smart Communications, expressed his belief in the potential of Filipinos to dominate Esports and emphasized the collaboration’s aim to empower aspiring athletes and provide them with opportunities to compete on a larger scale.
Alfrancis Chua, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of Dark League Studios, expressed enthusiasm for Smart’s vision for Philippine Esports and their shared goal of inspiring Filipino gamers to pursue their dreams. Marlon Marcelo, the Executive Director of the Philippine Esports Organization, welcomed the support from Smart and DLS, emphasizing the generation of more opportunities for aspiring Filipino gamers and their development as the future generation of Esports athletes, including Team SIBOL members.
In addition to this collaboration, Smart is renowned for providing the Philippines’ fastest and best mobile network, as validated by Ookla, a leading authority in mobile and broadband network intelligence. Smart received Ookla’s Best Mobile Network award in both Q1-Q2 2022 and Q3-Q4 2022, making it the only Philippine mobile operator to achieve this distinction. As of March 2023, Smart’s 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G network covered 97 percent of the country’s population.
For more information about Smart’s Esports programs, initiatives, and services, interested individuals can follow their official accounts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, or visit their official website at smart.com.ph.