In the past, esports was primarily dominated by PCs and home consoles. However, with the widespread adoption of powerful smartphones and high-speed internet, we are now witnessing a true revolution in competitive gaming, with mobile phones becoming the new battleground. In 2025, mobile esports is projected to account for 38% of the total global esports revenue, totaling $681 million. What is driving this immense growth, and how can Arab players become a part of this promising future?_
Accessibility and Low Cost: The Reasons for Growth
One of the main reasons for this growth is accessibility. Smartphones are ubiquitous, allowing billions of people around the world to enter the world of competitive gaming without the need to purchase expensive hardware. This opens the door for new talent from regions that were previously unable to compete, such as India, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and of course, the Arab region.
Additionally, many competitive mobile games are free-to-play, which removes the cost barrier and allows anyone to try the game and compete. This is a stark contrast to PC and console games that require purchasing the game itself, in addition to the cost of the hardware.
Most Popular Games and Global Tournaments
This trend is led by a group of games that have achieved massive popularity worldwide and have global tournaments with multi-million dollar prize pools. Some of the most prominent of these games include:
•PUBG Mobile: One of the most popular battle royale games on mobile, with huge global tournaments like the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC).
•Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: A highly popular MOBA game in Southeast Asia, with its M World Championship attracting millions of viewers.
•Honor of Kings: The Chinese version of Arena of Valor, and one of the highest-grossing games in the world.
These tournaments not only attract the best players from all over the world but also millions of viewers on live streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch, creating a complete ecosystem of players, teams, organizers, and sponsors.
Promising Opportunities for Arab Players
Mobile esports represents a golden opportunity for players in the Arab region. With a wealth of young talent and a great passion for gaming, Arab players can compete at the highest international levels. Some Arab organizations have already begun to invest in this field by creating professional teams and organizing local and regional tournaments.
Platforms like Kafu Games in Saudi Arabia provide players with a platform to participate in tournaments and win cash prizes, which helps to cultivate talent and develop the competitive scene in the region. As this market continues to grow, we can expect to see more support and investment in mobile esports in the Arab world, which will open the door for a new generation of world champions.
