\n\t\t\t\tFrom left to right: Clyde Pascual, Jarvis Chang, and Julius Tabios<\/p>\n
Call of Duty: Mobile has spent years carving out its place in a region dominated by mobile MOBAs. In countries like the Philippines, Mobile Legends remains the benchmark for mobile esports, yet Garena with CODM has maintained a competitive scene that continues to produce internationally competitive teams and a passionate community.<\/p>\n
For Jarvis Chang, Regional Producer for Call of Duty: Mobile Garena, the next stage of growth isn\u2019t just about creating more professional players. It\u2019s about creating more ways for people to participate in the ecosystem.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the three Cs,\u201d Chang told the Inquirer. \u201cThe first is competition, the second is community, and the third is creator.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Those three pillars have become the foundation of Garena\u2019s strategy for the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian region.<\/p>\n
According to Chang, the goal is to create what he repeatedly describes as an \u201copen pathway\u201d for players, whether they aspire to become professional competitors, content creators, or active members of the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to bring more open pathway for the community,\u201d he said. \u201cNot just the pro player in the organization who has been training, but also the new talent from the grassroots scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
That philosophy is reflected in Garena\u2019s growing investment in grassroots tournaments. While professional competitions remain important, Chang believes local events are equally critical in helping new players enter the ecosystem.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe important thing is that we want to do more local community events and local tournaments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
One of the company\u2019s biggest initiatives is the Garena Esports Program (GEP), which recently expanded in the Philippines. According to Chang, the latest tournament attracted more than 600 teams across both Multiplayer and Battle Royale divisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver 600 teams joined the tournament,\u201d he said. \u201cYesterday, the grand finals, there were a lot of new talent. They\u2019re first time to be on the major stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
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For Garena, those first-time competitors represent the real value of grassroots esports. Rather than focusing exclusively on established organizations, the publisher wants to create opportunities for players who otherwise might never get the chance to compete.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be another pathway for the player who could never be in the big organization but they have the chance to play, to show what they have and to show their ability and be scouted,\u201d Chang explained.<\/p>\n
International competition remains another important part of the roadmap. Garena continues to support the Garena Invitational Series (GIS), which serves as a regional platform for top teams.<\/p>\n
Chang pointed to recent Philippine performances as proof that local talent can compete with the best teams in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the GIS. I do believe that provides a certain path for our Philippine pro players to become the international superstar,\u201d he said. \u201cThe last two years, there are Philippine teams that finish top three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond competition, Garena sees community engagement as a defining characteristic of the Philippine CODM scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes PH community very different is that the players in the Philippines, they love to share a lot of feedback,\u201d Chang said. \u201cThey really share a lot of feedback and are very passionate about the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather than treating the relationship as a traditional publisher-player dynamic, Chang said Garena wants to work alongside the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are more like the partner instead of just the publisher. It goes a long way because its a team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chang cited the addition of Battle Royale tournaments as one example. According to him, the format was introduced after repeated requests from the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear that the community said that they want the BR tournament,\u201d he said. \u201cSo we want to give them that BR tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garena also brought the Garena Invitational Series offline event to the Philippines with Garena Summer Invitation 2026 last May, another move Chang described as a direct response to community demand.<\/p>\n
The third pillar focuses on creators.<\/p>\n
Garena\u2019s Creator Launchpad program has been running for five years and has already supported more than 200 Filipino creators. The publisher also operates a Creator Support Program that brings creators into both online and offline events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying to provide more chance for them to meet their fans, to meet our passionate community,\u201d Chang said.<\/p>\n
For Garena, creators are not separate from the competitive ecosystem. Chang believes many aspiring players begin their journey by sharing gameplay clips, highlights, and content before eventually becoming recognized members of the community.<\/p>\n
Looking further ahead, Chang stopped short of announcing plans for a long-term professional league similar to those seen in other esports titles. Instead, he emphasized sustainability.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal for the PH market is that we want to build a sustainable ecosystem,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Before discussing larger professional structures, Garena wants to continue strengthening the foundations through grassroots events, community programs, collegiate initiatives, and creator development.<\/p>\n
That approach can already be seen through the company\u2019s partnership with the Philippine Collegiate Championship (PCC), where CODM recently joined the collegiate circuit. Chang described the initiative as another way to reach students and provide opportunities for emerging talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to provide more pathway, open pathway for different roles in the community and not just focus on the players because everyone is important\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For now, Garena\u2019s roadmap remains focused on those three pillars: competition, community, and creators. Whether through local tournaments, collegiate esports, content creation programs, or international events, the publisher\u2019s strategy is centered on giving more players a way into the ecosystem.<\/p>\n