Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), the wireless subsidiary of integrated telco PLDT, sealed its partnership with Dark League Studios (DLS), an esports event management and production team, to strengthen esports and support grassroots gamers in the Philippines.

Smart and DLS will engage more gamers in the country with new tournaments and enhanced features on the GIGA Arena platform.

Smart GIGA Arena is an all-in-one esports platform that offers tournament experience to amateur players of popular games including Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty Mobile, Player’s Unknown Battleground, and League of Legends Wild Rift.

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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, president and CEO, PLDT and Smart Communications.

Tournaments

The partnership will allow Smart to further grow GIGA Arena in terms of the number of tournaments, and onboarding of game developers, and providing consumer-centric activities within the platform.  

Since its launch in 2022, Smart GIGA Arena has hosted over 2 million users in nearly 1,000 tournaments, offering more than P4.2 million in prizes.

Smart and DLS have also committed to working closely and collaborating with the Philippine Esports Organization (PeSo) to adopt industry best practices and maintain the highest standards of integrity. 

“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.