As a seasoned esports enthusiast who’s witnessed the evolution of competitive gaming over the years, I can confidently say that this year’s Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship was nothing short of spectacular. The energy, the strategy, and the sheer skill on display were truly a testament to the power of mobile gaming and the passion of its players.
2023 marked the commencement of a two-year collaboration between ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Activision Blizzard, resulting in the inclusion of “Call of Duty: Mobile” in the Snapdragon Pro Series Powered by Samsung Galaxy – the grandest multi-genre mobile esports tournament to date.
Through this partnership, a unique competitive format named the ‘Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship by Snapdragon Pro Series‘ emerged. Teams could vie for a place at the prestigious World Finals via the qualification system of the Snapdragon Pro Series. The aim behind this collaboration was to establish one of the largest and most accessible mobile esports ecosystems globally.
Since that time, the yearly World Championship has grown to encompass additional regions, enhanced spectator enjoyment, and provided increased chances for gamers at all skill levels to enter the competitive Call of Duty: Mobile esports world.
In this article, we talk about how EFG and Activision Blizzard have increased their impact and expanded competition’s scope. For insights into these advancements, we spoke to Sam Braithwaite, the Vice President of Mobile Game Ecosystems at EFG. This is our second chat with him on MobileMatters, and we appreciate his time. We hope you find our interview interesting.
MobileMatters: First, I’d like to understand how the partnership between ESL FACEIT Group and Activision Blizzard for the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship came to be. What sparked this collaboration?
Sam Braithwaite stated that among mobile games worldwide, Call of Duty: Mobile stands out as one of the most popular titles, particularly in mobile esports. Previously, the Snapdragon Pro Series was achieving global success, but it lacked a key game for North America. In collaboration with Activision, they incorporated Call of Duty: Mobile into the Snapdragon Pro Series during its second year. This addition opened up more chances for fans globally to watch, play, and compete. Furthermore, the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship was integrated into the Snapdragon Pro Series at Dreamhack Atlanta.
MobileMatters: We are currently in the second year of the partnership. When it was announced, one of the main objectives was to increase player accessibility to the Call of Duty: Mobile esports ecosystem. What strides have you taken to make this a reality?
Sam Braithwaite: Prior to teaming up with the Snapdragon Pro Series, the competitive scene for Call of Duty: Mobile only consisted of one season that culminated in the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship. Following this partnership, however, Call of Duty: Mobile now offers two seasons of competition annually, along with a greater number of global live events. This has led to a surge in participation, with approximately 2 million new players competing in Call of Duty: Mobile tournaments during its inaugural year as part of the Snapdragon Pro Series.
MobileMatters: What other notable improvements or changes have you made to the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship by Snapdragon Pro Series since day one of the collaboration?
Sam Braithwaite: Providing an unforgettable fan experience is crucial to us, and LAN events such as the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship offer fantastic chances for us to create moments that our community eagerly anticipates. To achieve this goal, we decided to host the tournament at DreamHack Atlanta, one of North America’s most renowned gaming lifestyle festivals. This not only presents a $1 million competition to a massive audience of tens of thousands, but it also offers us an opportunity to experiment with fresh fan-focused experiences.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m proud to partner with Qualcomm for our Snapdragon Pro Series events at DreamHack. At each event featuring an SPS event, we set up a jersey station where fans can personalize official jerseys with their gamer tags. More recently, we teamed up with DHL to introduce their new mascot, Cargo, to our live events. This helps our Snapdragon Pro Series fans celebrate the competition in style. To make things even more exciting, this year, we collaborated with Activision to create a zombies-themed booth for Season 9 of the game. Fans can complete tasks here to earn commemorative dog tags and other cool rewards!
Previously noted, we’ve expanded the Call of Duty: Mobile competitive schedule with an additional season, ensuring a full year of exciting competition for both fans and players. Furthermore, we’ve organized numerous live regional events like the North America Challenge Finals at PAX West and the India Challenge Finals at Dreamhack Hyderabad. Notably, Call of Duty: Mobile was chosen as a Mobile Masters title in 2023, offering a whopping $200,000 prize pool.
MobileMatters: Now, let’s focus on 2024’s competitive cycle. How did you handle the constant evolution of the Call of Duty: Mobile competitive meta during this year’s World Championship? More specifically, how closely did you collaborate on balancing game updates while still maintaining competitive integrity?
Sam Braithwaite: Our partnership with Activision is limited to Call of Duty: Mobile esports, meaning we don’t have control over game design or balance. Yet, this year’s World Championship was electrifying, showcasing the creativity of players as they crafted their loadouts and tactics. The variety in strategies, innovative map solutions, and tension-filled moments resulted in some of the most exhilarating Call of Duty: Mobile competitions this year.
MobileMatters: Did you seek any input from players, teams, and the community as a whole in structuring the format and rules of the competition?
Sam Braithwaite: We maintain regular communication with our teams and players to provide them with gaming experiences that are not just competitive, but surpass their expectations. This commitment holds true for the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship as well as our entire Snapdragon Pro Series.
MobileMatters: Continuing on the topic of the World Championship, the Finals were recently held in DreamHack Atlanta. What hurdles did you overcome in organizing an event of this large-scale proportion?
Following our successful competition last year, we were confident about organizing an even more exceptional event this time around. A consistent challenge in any global event is coordinating travel and visa arrangements with teams. However, despite encountering similar obstacles this year, all teams managed to arrive on time, allowing them to put up a fantastic spectacle for fans both at the festival and online.
MobileMatters: Can you give us an insight into any statistical highs or milestones, be it player participation or viewership, that this year’s event obtained? What do you think contributed to this?
This year saw a massive inflow of fans as more than 10 thousand people attended live events, while a staggering 1.8 million hours of content was consumed online across nearly 60 original hours. The Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship stood out among the world’s top mobile esports tournaments, with captivating narratives that our audience connected deeply with. Teams like Wolves and Godlike were determined to replicate their impressive performances from last season, while powerhouses such as Luminosity and Team Vitality battled fiercely for the trophy. However, it was Elevate who stole the limelight by claiming victory in an unexpected manner, crowned as World Champions. What makes esports so engaging is that each competition offers captivating stories beforehand, but the true narrative unfolds only when players take to the field and compete.
MobileMatters: What were some key learnings from this year’s competitive cycle that you will apply in 2025’s World Championship?
As a dedicated fan, I’m constantly engaging with teams and fellow enthusiasts at various tournaments, and the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship is no less. Alas, I’m unable to reveal particular details at the moment, but rest assured, we’re committed to enhancing players’ gaming experiences.
MobileMatters: Finally, how do you see Call of Duty: Mobile esports evolving over the next few years?
Sam Braithwaite: Call of Duty: Mobile boasts a unique mix of enduring popularity across generations and a broad global player community, particularly in North America and the Middle East. In competitive play, teams from China and Southeast Asia have been leading the charge. Given the success we’ve witnessed in these regions and beyond, I predict that Call of Duty: Mobile will maintain its status as a significant force in mobile esports. We are thrilled to keep working alongside Qualcomm and Activision to offer top-tier chances for viewing, playing, and competing to fans worldwide.
MobileMatters collaborates with the ESL FACEIT Group, which organizes the Snapdragon Pro Series tournaments.
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2024-10-31 13:01