Mobile Legends returns to India; 32.4M monthly players

Vizta Games relaunched Mobile Legends in India in March 2026 as Moba Legends: 5v5!, restoring Indian player accounts that had remained on file since the 2020 app restrictions. The title reached about 32.4 million monthly active users after the M7 World Championship drew a 5.68 million peak concurrent audience in January 2026.

Many Indian players had continued to access the game through virtual private networks and unofficial builds while it was unavailable on official storefronts. When the official release returned, those accounts could log in and resume progress and inventories. A different mobile MOBA that did not preserve regional server data left returning players without saved progress.

The M7 World Championship in January contributed to renewed attention in India. Its 5.68 million peak concurrent viewers included rising Indian viewership; local watch parties and online reaction streams attracted tens of thousands of viewers and brought larger audiences to high-level MOBA play.

Industry groups and esports organizations report roughly 32.4 million monthly active players in India. Prominent Indian esports outfits, including GodLike Esports and iQOO S8UL, have announced teams and content focused on Mobile Legends.

The competitive calendar for Mobile Legends in India now includes domestic events such as the MOBA Legends 5v5 Masters Series. International tournaments on the schedule that Indian fans are following include the Esports World Cup in Riyadh in July and the MPL Split 2 running from August to November 2026.

Betting platforms now offer odds and live markets for Mobile Legends to Indian audiences, and analytics providers supply tournament viewership and streamer-level metrics to organizations tracking the title’s reach.

India’s MOBA scene traces back to cyber cafes in the early 2010s, centered on Dota and the original DotA mod. As smartphones and internet access expanded, players shifted toward mobile alternatives with similar gameplay. Mobile Legends grew in popularity for that reason, while other mobile MOBAs also attracted audiences before the 2020 restrictions.

In June and September 2020, government action removed multiple apps from official stores, including Mobile Legends and other titles. PUBG Mobile later returned in a local version, but several MOBA titles did not relaunch immediately. Mobile Legends’ preserved account data allowed returning players to resume progress when the game returned to India in 2026.

Shooters such as BGMI and Free Fire continue to have large, established player bases in India. Mobile Legends reports 32.4 million monthly active players, and several domestic and international MOBA tournaments are scheduled through November 2026.