“We do not see that potential anymore”

Workforce Secret was one of many first main esports organizations to enter PUBG Cellular again in 2019. On the time, the sport was simply selecting up and lots of doubted whether or not a cell battle royale may even go on to grow to be a significant esports title.

Over the previous 5 years, although, Tencent has proved all of the naysayers flawed by creating an esport that rivals the highest ones by way of viewership. In 2023, the developer took a significant choice with the sport – and that was to launch a partnership program known as the PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL).This was initially launched just for SEA and after a profitable yr, Tencent has expanded it to all areas.

Picture Credit: Tencent

From 2024 onwards, there might be 4 PMSLs happening all over the world as offline occasions all year long. These will function a mix of partnered groups and certified ones.

Whereas this format brings stability to esports organizations with assured slots and maybe some monetary assist as properly, one group has publicly said that it’s sad – and that’s Workforce Secret.

Workforce Secret doesn’t see potential in PUBG Cellular esports anymore

Workforce Secret didn’t maintain again in its assertion whereas asserting its departure from the sport. The group blamed leaving the sport on one factor – and that’s the transition to a “fully-franchised league.”

Picture Credit: Tencent

“Everybody who has been following the scene has seen that this isn’t what it was once: viewership went down, followers moved on to greener pastures. As a lot as we love the sport, we consider it needs to be opened to everybody who needs to compete. This is the reason we made the choice to not pursue our PUBGM operations,” Workforce Secret stated on Instagram.

Whereas the PMSL is a partnered league, Tencent has confirmed that will probably be holding PMSL Qualifiers which is able to give a couple of groups an opportunity to compete on the massive stage. Nevertheless, plainly Workforce Secret is sad with the choice to implement this alteration.

This doesn’t come as a giant shock. A whole lot of gamers tune into PUBG Cellular esports with the hope of at some point going professional. Nevertheless, with the PMSL closing off a lot of the esports tournaments, these gamers will cut back their engagement in the direction of esports.

Moreover, it would disincentivize new groups from investing within the scene by selecting up grassroots expertise since there may be an excessive amount of friction to make it to the PMSL. Lastly, it would additionally result in a lesser growth of expertise as the highest gamers will solely have the assets to constantly follow and proceed being an expert participant.

Fall in viewership?

Picture Credit: Tencent

In its assertion, Workforce Secret additionally talked about a fall in viewership as a purpose for stepping again. This doesn’t appear to be the case in the intervening time, although. Each editions of the PMSL final yr had greater viewership than the PMPL SEA Championships in 2022.

Even the PMGC viewership has grown in 2023 when in comparison with 2022. Whereas these numbers may be decrease than in 2020 or 2021, this fall may be attributed to the correction submit the COVID-19 pandemic, the place lockdowns and lack of different leisure introduced an elevated focus to esports. You possibly can learn extra concerning the state of PUBG Mobile in our article here.

Nonetheless, Workforce Secret’s reasoning for exiting PUBG Cellular esports is justified. Tencent, then again, has stated that it’ll proceed supporting third-party tournaments, pushing Nationwide Championships (PMNC), and extra grassroots-level tournaments. It stays to be seen whether or not the partnership program can have an general constructive or destructive impact.