When the September sun shone down on the arena in Nairobi, the grand finals of the first-ever PUBG MOBILE Africa Cup came to life. Inside the packed hall, players’ fingers flew across the Infinix GT 30 Pro, every tap and flick echoing through the crowd like a heartbeat. It was more than a championship; it marked the first deep collaboration between a gaming smartphone brand and PUBG MOBILE on African soil — and the beginning of a new chapter in the global expansion of mobile esports.
From “Official Tournament Device” to “Global Esports Co-Creator”
Around the world, collaborations between brands and games are evolving from sponsorships into system-level partnerships, and Infinix stands at the forefront of this shift.
Its alliance with PUBG MOBILE goes far beyond co-branding. Guided by a strategy of localized operations and global co-creation, Infinix has expanded its esports presence across major competitive regions. From hardware tuning and frame-rate optimization to professional-league support and player-community engagement, the partnership deepens on every level.
Through the GT Gaming Co-Lab initiative, Infinix works with developers and professional teams to fine-tune network performance and gameplay response. The result is a suite of flagship innovations: GT Trigger capacitive shoulder keys, an esports-grade cooling system, and ultra-sensitive touch control that bring console-level precision to mobile gaming.
“Esports has become a universal language of the new generation,” said Tony Zhao, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Infinix. “Through our partnership with PUBG MOBILE, we aim to empower young players with technology that turns passion into performance and performance into global recognition.”
Since 2023, Infinix and PUBG MOBILE have joined forces across the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe, developing regional leagues, fan activations, and co-branded campaigns. In the Middle East, Infinix became the official gaming smartphone partner of the PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL). In South Asia, it launched the GT Gaming Arena tournament with local KOLs and university teams. In Europe, it introduced PUBG-themed limited-edition phones and offline experiences that brought gaming culture into daily life.
A defining moment arrived in 2024, when Infinix and the PMSL champion team appeared on New York’s Times Square billboard, signaling the brand’s esports vision expanding from regional influence to the global stage.
By 2025, the GT 30 Pro had become the official device of the PUBG MOBILE Africa Cup, delivering 120FPS gameplay, competitive-grade cooling, and lightning-fast touch response, setting a new benchmark for professional mobile esports.
From Zero to Hero: Africa’s Next Esports Frontier
The 2025 PUBG MOBILE Africa Cup, held at Charter Hall in Nairobi, gathered 16 elite teams from across the continent. After three days of intense competition, XForce Rejects from South Africa claimed the title, with player SHIVA named Finals MVP. They became Africa’s first team to qualify for the PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC), marking a historic leap for African esports.
As mobile internet adoption accelerates across Africa, smartphones have become the continent’s primary gateway to gaming. The player base of PUBG MOBILE continues to expand, and Infinix, one of the earliest smartphone brands to invest deeply in African markets, stands at the heart of that growth.
More than 12,000 players registered for the tournament, setting a new record for the region. Infinix also launched the Infinix Gaming Masters fan program, inviting communities from Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya to attend, create UGC content, and cheer together: “Hello Kenya, Hello Africa!” In that moment, esports became a shared cultural expression.
With a USD 8,000 prize pool, the event opened a pathway for local talents to reach global stages. Later this year, Infinix will again support the PMGC Grand Finals as official device partner, completing the journey from regional breakthrough to global contention.
“Infinix has injected new professional energy into African esports,” said Brian, Head of Esports for PUBG MOBILE Africa. “The GT 30 Pro’s stability and performance give players the confidence to compete at world-class levels. We look forward to seeing more African champions rise.”
Africa to the World: Igniting the Dreams of a Generation
Under the rallying cry “Africa to the World,” Infinix has turned the rise of African esports into part of its brand spirit. Through campaigns such as “Dreams Don’t Stop Here” and “GT 30 Pro Empowers Africa’s Esports Dreams,” fans have shared stories of passion and perseverance, joining a movement of hope and ambition that stretches across the continent.
Selected winners will travel to Thailand for the PMGC Global Finals, cheering for Africa’s first qualifying team and turning online dreams into real-world inspiration.
Beyond Gaming: Infinix’s Commitment to an Enjoyable Mobile Experience
During the Africa Cup, Infinix hosted the Gaming Fan Festival, blending gaming, cosplay, music, and African culture into an immersive celebration. PUBG avatars in African traditional attire became a vivid symbol of cross-cultural creativity, showing how technology can celebrate diversity.
The message “From Zero to Hero, Africa to the World” captured the essence of the event. From internet cafés to championship stages, Infinix has witnessed the rise of Africa’s gaming dreams and fueled them with the belief that technology can change destiny.
On the surface, Infinix × PUBG MOBILE might appear to be a commercial partnership. In reality, it represents a redefinition of youth culture through technology. Guided by its core proposition of delivering an enjoyable mobile experience, Infinix connects with the next generation in ways that are creative, inclusive, and global. Through the GT Series, the brand extends esports into lifestyle, creativity, and community, shaping a new digital way of living.
Today, the Infinix GT Series stands not only as a high-performance device but also as a cultural symbol that empowers a generation to express, connect, and dream bigger.
From Africa to the world, Infinix continues to ignite the future of esports, one game, one player, and one victory at a time.
