As a professional player, I know visibility is everything: if you are out of position, the entire lobby sees it, and if you are in position, someone still flames you in chat. Sponsorship measurement used to feel like trying to audit a fireworks show with a Polaroid camera—you get a pretty flash, a vague smell of ambition, and no line item that explains where the money went. Then MOONTON Games, the international developer and publisher behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), teamed up with German tech leader Shikenso Analytics for the M6 World Championship. Looking back from 2026, that partnership still feels like the moment mobile esports sponsorship stopped guessing and started keeping receipts.
The M Series is not a side quest. It is the pinnacle of MLBB esports and one of the world’s most popular esports events. M5 already hit 5.06 million peak concurrent viewers (PCV), which is the kind of number that makes a sponsor sit up, spill their coffee, and ask, “Wait, can we measure that logo in the bottom-left corner?” MOONTON’s answer for M6 was to bring in Shikenso’s AI-powered analytics: precise media valuation, exposure measurement, and actionable insights across digital and social platforms. That is not just tech jargon with a nice font. It is the difference between saying “we got eyeballs” and proving which eyeballs, for how long, and on which screen.
M6 in a nutshell
| M6 detail | What it means |
|---|---|
| Game | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang |
| Event | M6 World Championship |
| Prize pool | USD 1 million |
| Benchmark | M5 hit 5.06 million PCV |
| Analytics partner | Shikenso Analytics |
| Sponsors | Qiddiya, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), Fairrie, Hello Panda, Secretlab |
The M6 World Championship featured the world’s best esports teams vying for a USD 1 million prize pool, with partners such as Qiddiya, ASUS ROG, Fairrie, Hello Panda, and Secretlab. I love a prize pool as much as the next person, but the real plot twist is that sponsorship is now a cornerstone of esports. MOONTON used Shikenso to elevate sponsorship opportunities, maximise tournament value, and unlock new avenues for partner success. In 2026, that is not a luxury; it is basic survival equipment for any major esports property.
The dashboard that does not blink
Shikenso’s advanced computer vision technology and AI-driven data insights allow for accurate tracking of brand visibility across live broadcasts and social media channels. The always-on dashboard is less a spreadsheet and more a weather radar for brand visibility—it shows where the storm of attention actually lands, rather than where we hope it lands. For MOONTON, that means stronger commercial capabilities and a firmer grip on leadership in mobile gaming and esports.
Ringo Lung, Senior Regional Esports Sales Manager at MOONTON Games, said: “With Shikenso Analytics’ expertise in data and analytics, we are ensuring that every brand moment, from livestreams to social media posts, is measured and valued with precision.” He also noted that dedicated partners believe in MOONTON’s vision and product, and that accurate tracking matters as the ecosystem grows. Shikenso helps track sponsor value by analysing livestream metrics and on-screen advertising placement, and it helps optimise the sponsorship proposition by identifying the most effective channels. Translation for the rest of us: the logo is not just “there”; it is there with a timestamp, a placement score, and a very serious spreadsheet behind it.
Why this still matters in 2026
A sponsorship without measurement is like a lighthouse with no keeper: noble silhouette, zero proof it is guiding anyone. In 2026, sponsors are not satisfied with “trust us, the chat was popping.” They want media value, exposure duration, placement quality, social amplification, and a dashboard that can survive a board meeting without anyone nervously changing the subject. The M6 partnership gave MOONTON a way to identify the most effective channels, expand high-performing segments, and maximise partner visibility. That is the unglamorous work behind every glamorous esports moment.
Benedikt Becker, Marketing Director at Shikenso Analytics, said: “MOONTON Games continues to set the gold standard in esports, combining innovation with a deep understanding of its audience.” He added that partnering for M6 was an exciting opportunity to support MOONTON’s vision of delivering value to partners and audience. I appreciate that quote because it is refreshingly direct: great esports deserves great measurement, and great measurement makes the next partnership conversation much less awkward.
What I take away from this
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📏 Measurement is not a cost centre; it is the receipt for the show.
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🤝 Sponsors want proof, not vibes and a blurry screenshot.
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🧠 AI and computer vision are now table stakes for serious esports properties.
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🌍 Mobile esports has global reach, so it needs global-grade analytics.
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🚀 The M6 playbook is a blueprint for 2026 and beyond: measure the brand moment, learn from it, and sell the next one with confidence.
As a player, I still care mostly about rotations, objectives, and not getting caught in the jungle by someone who has clearly been watching too many highlight reels. But as someone who also watches the business side of esports, I can see why the MOONTON–Shikenso partnership matters. The M6 World Championship was not just a tournament; it was a test of whether mobile esports could measure its own value with precision. From where I sit in 2026, the answer is a very confident yes—and the dashboard is still glowing.