Winning team NU Bulldogs from the Philippines bested eight elite teams from Southeast Asia.

The inaugural Samsung x MLBB – Galaxy Gaming Campus Tournament (Galaxy Gaming Academy X Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Campus Series 2025) has successfully concluded, marking a pivotal moment for collegiate esports in Southeast Asia. This groundbreaking tournament brought together the brightest student gamers from Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore in the first-ever inter-country MLBB Campus Series, designed to nurture emerging talent and build a vibrant community of competitive gamers.

The cross-national grand finals, held from June 20-22 at Taman Anggrek Mall in West Jakarta, known as the “esports shopping mall”, saw team NU Bulldogs from the Philippines emerge victorious after intense competition among the top eight elite teams. The tournament attracted over 1,000 participating teams from four countries, through domestic qualifiers, all vying for the substantial US$40,000 prize pool.

“Samsung is deeply committed to empowering the next generation of esports talent across Southeast Asia,” said Carl Nordenberg, VP, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania. “The Galaxy Gaming Academy x MLBB Campus Series reflects our dedication to providing students with the technology, platform, and opportunities they need to excel in competitive gaming. We are proud to support these young athletes as they pursue their esports dreams – and we are excited for a fun and engaging competition between Southeast Asian universities!”

Ray Ng, Head of Ecosystem, MOONTON Games, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “The collaboration between MOONTON Games and Samsung for the first-ever inter-country MLBB Campus Series Tournament significantly aligns with our commitment to building a strong foundation for aspiring gamers to pursue their esports careers through the tournament. We thank Samsung for this partnership and the Galaxy Gaming Academy that successfully showcased their commitment in the gaming and esports ecosystem while encouraging esports development and student participation across the region.”

NU Bulldogs from the Philippines claimed the championship title and the top prize of US$18,000. NU Bulldogs demonstrated exceptional skill, strategy, and teamwork throughout the tournament, proving themselves as the premier campus MLBB team in Southeast Asia.

FAITH NOVUS Bravehearts, settling for second place, took home US$8,000, while third placer VL Team from Indonesia won US$5,000.

First runners up: FAITH NOVUS Bravehearts team from the Philippines.

Second runners up: VL Team from Indonesia.

“Taking home the championship title is beyond what we imagined when we first registered. Playing against the best campus teams from Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore has made us all better players and showed us the incredible depth of talent in our region. This tournament proves that student gamers deserve serious recognition and support, and we cannot wait to see how this grows in the future. We hope more students will join us in competitive gaming!” said Patrick Balanquit, coach for the NU Bulldogs.

GGA x MCS 2025 Tournament Highlights

The GGA x MCS 2025 featured a comprehensive three-stage tournament structure. Beginning with open registration from March 15 to April 6, the competition progressed through domestic online qualifiers (April 7-May 11) across all four countries, with Indonesia conducting an additional offline national competition (April 19-May 25) to select its national finalists. The top two campus teams from each country then advanced to compete in the cross-national grand finals in Jakarta.

Crowds gather to see the teams battle it out on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes the centerstage as the tournament phone for the MLBB Campus Series. The cutting-edge device provides optimal and professional-level gaming experience for the participants.

The competition highlighted the incredible depth of young esports talent across Southeast Asia, with teams displaying advanced tactical understanding, mechanical skill, and coordinated gameplay typically seen at professional levels. The tournament was enhanced by Samsung’s provision of innovative Galaxy mobile devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, ensuring all competitors had access to optimal gaming performance, display quality, and responsiveness crucial for the professional-level Mobile Legends: Bang Bang competition.

A key highlight of the tournament was the active presence of representatives from professional esports teams, including Dewa United, Onic, EVOS, and Team Liquid, reinforcing the event’s primary objective of providing a structured platform for aspiring student gamers to compete at high levels while gaining invaluable competitive experience. Events like GGA x MCS 2025 are intended to help lower traditional barriers to entry for aspiring esports athletes, creating direct pathways from campus competition to professional careers.

Looking to the Future of GGA x MCS

The success of the inaugural Galaxy Gaming Academy x MLBB Campus Series 2025 establishes a new standard for collegiate esports in Southeast Asia. The tournament has demonstrated that with proper structure, technology support, and community engagement, campus-level esports can achieve professional-quality standards while maintaining the vibrant, passionate spirit of collegiate competition.

The comprehensive engagement journey—from pre-event awareness building through post-tournament talent scouting—has created a blueprint for sustainable esports ecosystem development that other regions can emulate.

For more details on Galaxy Gaming Academy, please visit Samsung’s Game Portal.

Samsung Electronics continues to redefine gaming innovation with the Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series in an exciting new partnership with MOONTON Games. Kicking off the partnership is the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Campus Series (MCS), which will be launched for the first time across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

With MLBB being one of the most popular games in the region, the first-of-its-kind collaboration with MOONTON Games provides student mobile gamers with a large-scale competitive platform to hone their skills at a regional level while leveraging the Galaxy S25 Ultra, a mobile gaming powerhouse, to elevate their performance.

Bringing Student Esports to the Next Level

More than just a competition, the Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series is a gateway for student gamers aged 18 and above to pursue their esports aspirations. The tournament will span multiple national championships, culminating in an electrifying regional playoffs, followed by the grand finals in Indonesia, where the best student teams will battle for the regional championship.

Through this initiative, Samsung aims to bridge the gap between student and professional esports, ensuring that young talents have a clear and competitive path to turning their gaming dreams into reality.

Powering the Future of Mobile Esports with Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is at the heart of this initiative, providing participants with the ultimate gaming experience. Designed for peak performance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra features:

• Advanced Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy for seamless gameplay
• 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display for ultra-smooth graphics
• Vulkan Engine for smoother and more realistic gaming
• Long-lasting battery life, and a larger vapor chamber and tailored thermal interface material (TIM) for efficient heat dissipation to sustain long gaming sessions[1]

“We believe in providing the next generation of gamers with next-level technology and opportunities to help them reach their full potential. Through Samsung’s Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series, we are not only equipping students with mobile devices that bring a game-changing experience, we are also creating a forum for them to develop their skills, gain experience, and expand their community. For some, Galaxy Gaming Academy may even help them build toward a professional esports career. With MLBB’s popularity and wide appeal in this region, our partnership with Moonton will enable us to reach to more young, talented gamers across Southeast Asia,” said Carl Nordenberg, VP, Regional Head of Mobile Experience, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania.”

Ray Ng, Head of Ecosystem, MOONTON Games, said, “This partnership with Samsung marks a new milestone in expanding the reach of student-focused esports. We thank Samsung for this collaboration that underscores a shared vision of strengthening grassroots esports opportunities and creating a sustainable pathway for young players to grow within the MLBB ecosystem. With MCS set to expand further in the coming years, students can look forward to more tournaments, activities, and experiences, allowing them to dive deeper into the dynamic world of esports. Stay tuned as MCS continues to redefine campus-level esports and inspire the next generation of MLBB champions.”

Samsung Game Portal: Your Gateway to Competitive Gaming

All interested participants will need to register for the Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series using Samsung’s Game Portal. This one-stop platform will serve as the central hub for Samsung’s gaming ecosystem, registrations, and tournament information, ensuring that players and viewers across Southeast Asia have convenient access to everything they need to compete and enjoy the games.

A Landmark Tournament for Southeast Asian Mobile Gamers

With local tournaments set to ignite across the region, the best campus teams will battle for a chance to compete in the grand finals in Indonesia to find out who is the best MLBB student team in Southeast Asia.

Stay tuned as the Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series unfolds — where the next generation of MLBB stars will be discovered.

Tournament Dates

Prize Pool

Total: USD 40,000

• 1st place: USD 18,000
• 2nd place: USD 8,000
• 3rd place: USD 5,000
• 4th place: USD 3,000
• 5th – 8th place: USD 1,500

For more details on Galaxy Gaming Academy, please visit Samsung’s Game Portal. You may also follow the official social channels of Samsung Electronics and MOONTON Games for more details.

To purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, please visit: http://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-s25-ultra/buy/

[1] Compared to Galaxy S24 Ultra. AP performance improvements shown compared to Galaxy S24 Ultra. Actual performance will depend on user environment, conditions and pre-installed software and applications.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

About MOONTON Games

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. With more than 1,600 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Latin America, and China. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide. For more information, visit https://en.moonton.com.

Samsung today announced the Samsung Galaxy Gaming Academy, to bring together passionate gamers from across the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.

The Galaxy Gaming Academy focuses on the twin themes of nurturing up-and-coming talent and building a unique community of gamers spanning different backgrounds. Across the region, anyone with a passion for gaming can join as members of Galaxy Gaming Academy and gain exclusive access to programs such as community-bonding activities, educational and training content, as well as in-game rewards from local gaming partners.

For the young digital natives of today, gaming is an intrinsic part of their everyday lives.  In fact, the Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) Gaming Insight Study^[1] found that more than half of gamers surveyed (56%) indulge in gaming more than a few times a week. This group of gamers are made up of both Gaming Enthusiasts and Hardcore Gamers[2], and spend a significant amount of time deeply engaged in gaming-related activities such as watching gaming videos, discussing gaming within their communities, and staying updated on gaming news.

These findings closely align with the region’s large Millennial and Gen Z population, who demonstrate a passion for gaming. In response to these customer trends, Samsung has designed the Galaxy Gaming Academy to be built on community involvement and cooperation, with content that is engaging for gamers of all levels. At the same time, it seeks to become a platform to provide members with upskilling and training opportunities, while also earning attractive rewards by being part of the community.

Carl Nordenberg, Regional Head of Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, said, “We are incredibly excited to introduce the Samsung Galaxy Gaming Academy to all our fans in the region, to unite and nurture a unique community of gamers from all walks of life. We believe that gaming should be accessible for everyone and hope to enable more memorable mobile gaming experiences through the Galaxy Gaming Academy.”

A Galaxy of Experiences for Gamers

The Galaxy Gaming Academy will be progressively rolled out across the Southeast Asia and Oceania region, starting with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, with additional launches planned in the rest of the region.

Samsung held a Galaxy Gaming Academy, 5G powered by CelcomDigi at Galaxy Space on 9 – 11 June 2023. Fans experienced the power of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra while playing two top mobile games during the gaming tournament. Equipped with a powerful processor, long-lasting battery, and Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that delivers clear, vivid details onscreen with smooth action, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra delivers the ultimate gaming performance.

“Community lives at the heart of gaming, and at Samsung, we want to deepen our connection to our local gamer communities and industry partners that are passionate and engaged, through initiatives like Galaxy Gaming Academy. At the same time, we want to enable them to enjoy their gaming experiences like never before, whether on our powerful Galaxy devices, QLED TVs or gaming monitors.  Samsung provides the best gaming experience, for casual and hardcore gamers alike,” said KM Liew, Vice President & Head of Mobile eXperience (MX), Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

[1] Conducted in partnership with ONE Esports, over 6,800 consumers aged 18 to 49 across seven markets (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) were surveyed in the last quarter of 2022.

[2] Hardcore gamers are defined by the study as gamers who play and watch gaming content multiple times a day, while gaming enthusiasts are characterized as gamers who play and watch gaming content a few times a week.

Esports and online gaming has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. From what was seen as a niche hobby played within the confines of LAN cafes, dorm rooms and bedrooms, it is now a global powerhouse with thousands of players – and spectators – participating in large-scale organized events. This expansion has been fuelled in part by advancements in technologies like 5G, which has made esports and gaming more accessible to a wider audience.

Today, gamers can make a living by turning professional and taking part in competitions, or by streaming gameplay sessions online. Many youths worldwide are also showing a keen interest in gaming, and have fueled the popularity of esports by forming a growing viewer base, including major international tournaments.

As esports gains momentum globally, the recent Olympic Esports Week held in Singapore has further ignited interest in gaming in Southeast Asia.

This ground-breaking event spotlighted the exceptional dedication, skill, and competitive spirit of esports athletes. Across the region, competitive gaming communities then have the unique opportunity to shape discussions around the complexities of esports, fostering a broader appreciation among the general public and nurturing the growth of an inclusive and vibrant esports community.

Building communities around esports

In the young and dynamic Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region, the gaming community is particularly thriving. Findings from Samsung’s SEAO Gaming Insight Study[1] note that 7 in 10 online consumers in the region are gamers, and that more than half of gamers surveyed (56%) play games more than a few times a week.

Among gamers, they can be further categorized into Gaming Enthusiasts and Hardcore Gamers, who are deeply engaged in gaming-related activities such as watching gaming-related videos, discussing gaming within their communities, and staying updated on the latest gaming news. This reflects a vibrant community of gamers among the region’s consumers.

These findings closely align with the region’s large population of millennials and Gen Zs, who often demonstrate a passion for gaming. Samsung’s innovations in advancing the user experience whether on mobile or displays, are perfectly positioned to enable the gaming passions of youth in the region, be it for casual gamers who want to stay connected with their interests, or even budding esports players with ambitions to go professional.

“Youths in our region are passionate about gaming. We are excited to support our younger audiences in pushing the boundaries of gaming, and to provide cutting-edge Galaxy devices that keep up with all the action. Our partnerships with game developers, media partners, and other industry leaders, are likewise crucial to powering up gaming experiences.” – Carl Nordenberg, Regional Head of Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania

“For gamers, having the right equipment can make all the difference. Our wide range of gaming monitors, such as the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 and the Odyssey Ark, are catered for every need. Whether you are an avid hardcore player or a pro esports athlete, Samsung is committed to continue innovating for all gamers.” – Leslie Goh, Head of Regional Display Solutions, Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania

Samsung is committed to transforming the experience for every gamer, with a dedicated line-up of smartphones and monitors that offer premium, gaming-optimized features to ensure smooth visuals and precise gameplay. With gaming enthusiasts in mind, Samsung has also partnered with ONE Esports to provide Galaxy users in Southeast Asia with early access to gaming news and content on the ONE Esports mobile app.

To unite and champion the growth of gaming communities, Samsung’s Galaxy Gaming Academy is rolling out across SEAO and it has already been launched in Indonesia. Gamers of all backgrounds are invited to join as members and gain exclusive access to community-bonding activities, educational and training content, and even in-game rewards from local gaming partners.

As a long-time Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Samsung’s innovative technologies have transformed the way the sporting community, athletes, and fans around the world communicate and share the excitement with each other. Samsung is a premium partner of the inaugural Olympics Esports Week, which took place in Singapore from 22 to 25 June 2023.

Gaming enthusiasts can catch the key event highlights and follow the action on Olympics.com and Olympic social handles using versatile and powerful devices such as the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Galaxy A series; or choose from Samsung’s performance monitors such as the Odyssey Ark and Odyssey OLED for a truly immersive experience.

[1] Conducted in partnership with ONE Esports, over 6,800 consumers aged 18 to 49 across seven markets (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) were surveyed in the last quarter of 2022.