To further strengthen the grassroots of eSports in the Philippines, Smart and Dark League Studios have signed a multi-year partnership to support amateur eSports leagues across the country and support their growth in the Philippines. Through this partnership, both Smart and Dark League Studios are also committed to collaborating with the Philippine eSports Organization (PeSo) to adopt the best practices and maintain the highest standards in the field of eSports.

“Our partnership with DLS is in line with our commitment to provide the best gaming experience to Filipinos. Through our collaboration with Dark League Studios, we hope to empower more aspiring eSports athletes to level up their gameplay and compete in a much bigger arena,” PLDT-Smart President and CEO Al Panlilio said.

Launched in 2022, Smart’s GIGA Arena has hosted over 2 million users in nearly 1,000 tournaments, offering more than Php 4.2 million in prizes. Its tournaments cover popular games that include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and League of Legends: Wild Rift.

Smart is a strong advocate of growing eSports in the Philippines, utilizing its 5G connectivity for its first eSports Hub back in 2020, where initial tests showed that Smart’s 5G connection is capable of hitting 1Gbps. It also unveiled Giga Arena in 2022 as a platform for mobile eSports in the Philippines.

“We are excited to leverage our expertise and experience in engaging the gaming community and inspiring Filipino gamers to fulfill their dream,” Dark League Studios Co-Founder and CMO Alfrancis Chua said.