After the successful hosting of the CrossFire Legends Southeast Asia Championship (CFLC) 2026 in Makati, CrossFire Esports is setting its sights on a bigger role for the Philippines in the regional esports scene.

CrossFire Esports brand lead Jiahao Lin said that the game—which was introduced in late 2025—already has a solid foundation in the country, and the company plans to tap into that market to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia. 

He emphasized that this 2026, the company will increase investment in official tournaments and forge long-term partnerships within the Philippine esports community, aiming to establish the country as a central hub for competitive gaming in Southeast Asia.

"The CrossFire IP in the Philippines has a solid foundation. Our promise to our Filipino players is that in 2026, we will definitely treat the Philippines as a key esports hub in Southeast Asia, viewing it as such and developing our strategies accordingly,” said Lin.

“Furthermore, we will not only invest in official tournaments but also invest more in long-term esports partnerships with our community ecosystem partners,” he added.

Organized by Level Infinite, TiMi Studios, and Hero Esports, the first-ever CFLC proved to be a success with Vietnamese squad Evolution Team winning the inaugural tournament after sweeping home team Kadiliman Esports in the grand finals.

The tournament featured 10 teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand competing for a share of the $45,000 prize pool, showcasing some of the region’s top talent in the first major CrossFire: Legends event outside of China.

Looking ahead, Jiahao Lin reiterated the company’s commitment to building a stronger local esports ecosystem.

“We will work with our community and ecosystem partners to grow and expand CrossFire; Legends. We will definitely make the Philippines a key hub for esports in Southeast Asia this year.”