If you’ve ever dreamt of owning a slice of Malaysian esports—or just fancied seeing your favourite MLBB teams battle it out with a little more financial cushion—then buckle up. Because the winds of change are blowing through MPL Malaysia, and they smell suspiciously like franchising and freshly minted ticket stubs.

Speaking at a recent press pow-wow, Fikri Rizal Mahruddin—MOONTON Games’ Malaysia Esports Lead and apparent master of vague hints—dropped a tantalising teaser: MPL Malaysia might finally be ditching its old-school promotion-relegation format and going full franchise. Think fewer open-qualifier upstarts, more long-term investments, stability, and perhaps the occasional sponsor logo the size of a small house.

Now, if you’re wondering why MOONTON would even consider overhauling a league that’s just hit 870,000 peak viewers last season (a local record, mind you), Mahruddin’s answer is as business-speak as it gets: stability, financial security, and the ever-glorious “structured ecosystem.” In layman’s terms: teams can breathe easier, sponsors are happier, and the whole circus gets to stay in town longer.

He pointed to MPL Philippines and MPL Indonesia as proof that franchising works. The former hit 1.6 million peak viewers, the latter? A staggering 4 million. And both leagues made the franchising leap years ago, in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

So, is MPL Malaysia late to the party? Not really. Esports is still very much in its infancy, especially here in Malaysia.

And that’s not the only change. Season 15 of MPL Malaysia is shaking things up in other ways too—namely, by putting a price tag on your fandom. That’s right, no more waltzing into the regular season for free. MOONTON’s decided it’s time fans paid a modest RM10 for the pleasure. Why? Apparently, it’s about “elevating the infrastructure” and “enhancing the fan experience.” Which is marketing speak for: “we need money, but also, look at all this cool stuff we’ve added!”

And to be fair, they have added some cool stuff. The league has returned to Stadium Juara at Bukit Kiara—a venue so beloved they’re calling it the “best place” for MPL Malaysia. There’ll be booths, brand activations, and even a Naruto crossover event during Weeks Two and Three.

Oh, and if you were worried no one would cough up for tickets? Don’t. The opening week’s already sold out.

Interestingly, this season marks the final lap in a years-long esports development plan that began all the way back in Season 7. 2025 will see a new roadmap roll out, but Mahruddin insists the goal remains the same: grow the league, grow the scene, and make sure no one—fans, teams, or brand partners—gets left behind.

Franchise dreams are still just that—dreams—for now. But with all signs pointing to an announcement later this year, it looks like MPL Malaysia might soon join its neighbours in playing the long game.

And let’s be honest, with a Naruto collab, a sold-out crowd, and the promise of financial stability? That’s a franchise pitch even the Hokage might approve.