How PUBG Mobile Built Thailand’s Professional Mobile Esports Scene

PUBG Mobile launched globally in March 2018. At the time, Thailand lacked a professional mobile esports infrastructure – the country's competitive gaming scene was built around PC games like League of Legends and Dota 2. Mobile games, however, were considered casual entertainment. By 2024, three Thai teams had reached the PUBG Mobile World Finals, and the country ranked second in Southeast Asia behind Vietnam. You can follow their progress through Melbet Thailand, which also offers betting options. Therefore, it's recommended to stay on top of the action and follow the news.

Why Krafton Picked Thailand As A Priority SEA Market

The success was not a coincidence. Krafton, the publisher of PUBG Mobile, picked Thailand as a key market in Southeast Asia. They had a few reasons for this. First, over 75 percent of adults owned smartphones in 2019. Second, Thailand has a young population that loves digital gaming. Lastly, there's an existing esports culture from PC games that the mobile game can tap into, rather than starting from scratch.

In 2019, the PMPL league kicked off in Southeast Asia. Teams from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore all took part in the tournament. Krafton allocated the prize money to $50,000 for this season. You can also watch major tournaments on Melbet Mobile, as the app is available for your phone.

The Teams That Built The Competitive Scene

Major Thai PUBG Mobile teams that built the competitive scene:

• Vampire Esports – Among the first Thai organizations to be formed, participated in PMGC (PUBG Mobile Global Championship) on several occasions.
• Geek Fam Thailand – A regional organization with top-5 finishes in PMPL tournaments.
• ATTACK ALL AROUND (AAA) – Qualified for PMGC 2021 and finished in the top-8, marking the highest achievement by a Thai team in PUBG Mobile.
• Bacon Time – Initially a casual entertainment brand that later turned professional.
• Buriram United Esports – An esports organization backed by a football club, well-funded through sponsors.
• King of Gamers Club (KOG) – A recently emerged organization showing fast growth from 2023-24.

Streaming Economics And Player Earning Tiers

These teams created a secondary economy with the supporting infrastructure. Facebook Gaming streams lead in Thailand. This is due to more young gamers using Facebook than YouTube. Streamers who rank in the top 20 earn about $5,000-$15,000 per month from streaming, subscriber tips, and brand deals.

This player economy is divided into three categories. The top players, ranked one to fifty, earn between $500 and $3,000 each month. This includes team salaries, tournament prize pools, and streaming income. Middle-tier players, ranked one to two hundred, earn between $200 and $700 each month. They do this as substitutes or through development contracts. Finally, the lowest-ranking players earn nothing, but make some money from streaming while trying to get scouted.

The Team-House Model And Its Burnout Cost

The team-house structure became the norm by 2022. The best Thai companies lease accommodation in Bangkok for their teams, consisting of five players each. These boarding houses reduce transportation expenses, enforce training sessions, and provide more content creation options (vlogs, behind-the-scenes content) than individual player accounts. However, the problem is burnout: several Thai players quit by 22-23 years of age due to poor mental well-being because of living in such team houses.

The 2021 PMGC Run That Set The Ceiling For Thai PUBG Mobile

Competition format follows Krafton's global structure. Domestic Thai tournaments feed into PMPL Southeast Asia, which feeds into PMGC (global). The pyramid rewards consistent regional performance – making PMGC requires not just one strong run but two consecutive seasons of top-8 PMPL placement.

The 2021 PMGC run by ATTACK ALL AROUND remains the high-water mark for Thai PUBG Mobile. AAA finished top-8 globally, beating teams from Korea, Brazil, and the Middle East in their group stage. The prize money – $40,000 split among the roster – was the largest single payout to Thai mobile esports players up to that point. Coverage on True Visions and Facebook Gaming peaked at over 1 million concurrent Thai viewers during the AAA matches.

Where The Thai PUBG Mobile Scene Goes Next

The shift to PUBG Mobile World Invitational rules brought about different levels of competition. Reduced team sizes, points systems, and fewer maps were conducive for teams with vast libraries of strategies. Thailand has made its mark under this format, but not yet at the new level of the world's top four.

Thailand comes second in SEA, just below Vietnam, in terms of performance. Teams like Box Gaming and IHQ from Vietnam have been more successful. They also keep their players better in international competitions. Indonesia ranks third, backed by strong local support. The Philippines and Malaysia follow, occasionally showing signs of competitiveness.

It’s clear that the structure built from 2019 to 2024 – teams, streamers, sponsors, and fan networks – will continue long after any single title. Whatever the next boom for mobile esports in Thailand may be will have an entirely higher starting point than that of PUBG Mobile in 2018.