Deputy Minister Affirms Esports as a Collaborative Space for the Creative Economy

Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency Irene Umar has affirmed the government’s commitment to making esports a ‘creative playground’ that can connect young talent with various subsectors of the creative economy. She made the statement during a press conference for the Grand Final of Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Indonesia Season 17 at the Jakarta International Velodrome on Sunday. ‘Partnerships cannot be merely one-off or ceremonial. We are building a sustainable relationship to turn MPL into a creative playground for creative economy champions so they have a stage to create,’ said Irene. According to her, the concept is not only aimed at those already involved in the esports industry, but also at people who want to learn about and become part of the ecosystem. Irene noted that esports has now grown into an industry capable of opening career opportunities while simultaneously encouraging the birth of new creative works. She hopes more young people will be interested in pursuing the esports industry without doubts about the career prospects the sector offers. Through this collaboration, six local IPs—Starla, Halomiyu, Beemala, Hai Dudu, Khuga, and Cerita Sole—will feature in a series of Thematic Weeks throughout the competition season. Irene assessed that the collaboration demonstrates esports’ ability to act as a connector for various creative economy subsectors, including IP development and the fashion industry. ‘Today we see firsthand an IP collaboration that is not just announced, but also has follow-up actions. Esports can become a trendsetter across various industry lines beyond esports, including fashion,’ said Irene. Beyond strengthening the creative ecosystem, Irene said Indonesian esports also possesses strong capital to continue growing through various achievements at the international level. ‘I hope Indonesian esports can become a unifier for the nation,’ Irene stated. Meanwhile, Head of Indonesia Esports Business Development at Moonton Games, Martinus H. Manurung, said the development of local IP within MPL is aimed at creating new economic opportunities for creators. According to him, IPs born from the collaboration have the potential to be developed into various products and creative works, ranging from merchandise and apparel to comics and animation. ‘The ultimate goal is how the IPs we create together can help generate new jobs or new sources of creativity that can be monetised,’ said Martinus. He added that the presence of local IP within the esports ecosystem is expected to encourage youth creativity while opening up new business opportunities based on intellectual works. The collaboration between Moonton Games and Tale X also introduces the character Suga, developed as part of efforts to expand the involvement of the creative community in the national esports industry.