It’s not every day that a mobile game’s soundtrack gets the spotlight it truly deserves, but 2026 has been a banner year for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MOONTON Games just dropped some serious news—its in-house music and audio production crew, Moontunes Studios (lovingly called MTS), walked away with not one, but two Grand Winner trophies at the 2026 NYX Game Awards. Talk about a mic drop! 🎤
The awards, organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA), are no small potatoes. They’re a global benchmark for brilliance in video games, game design, and interactive entertainment. For MTS to snatch both the Mobile Game – Best Music and Mobile Game – Best Audio Design categories with a single flagship title is the kind of sweep that makes the rest of the industry sit up and pay attention. Honestly, you can almost hear the jaws dropping across the Land of Dawn.
So what earned MLBB this double crown? The answer lies in a particular skin series that dropped back in August 2025 — Metro Zero. This wasn’t just another cosmetic update; it was a full-blown audiovisual revolution. Metro Zero mashes up cyberpunk grit with Chinese spiritual culture, and the result is a sonic tapestry that feels both futuristic and deeply rooted. Imagine the pulse of Hokkien rap woven with traditional Chinese folk melodies, then layered over pounding EDM beats and sleek, glitchy cyberpunk textures. It’s the kind of boundary-smashing mix that gives Moontunes Studios its well-earned swagger.
Let’s be real for a second: sound often plays second fiddle to flashy graphics in mobile titles. But MTS treats audio as the very soul of the game. The Metro Zero experience proves that when you get the music and sound design right, you’re not just playing a match—you’re living inside a cinematic universe. The fusion isn’t just cultural lip service; it’s a careful, respectful blend that lets players from different corners of the world feel the beat of something both fresh and familiar.
Cedar Zhao, Audio Director of Moontunes Studios at MOONTON Games, practically radiated pride when speaking about the win. He said, “Winning these Grand Awards at the 2026 NYX Game Awards is a tremendous honour and a testament to the extraordinary talent, passion, and dedication of our music and audio production team. Sound is the soul of gaming, and our goal has always been to make every match feel epic, culturally resonant, and emotionally engaging for our millions of players worldwide.” You’ve got to love a director who sees his team as sound magicians—and with results like this, who can argue?
Not to be outdone, Thomas Brandt, spokesperson for the IAA, tipped his hat to the studio. He shared, “Behind [MOONTON Games] is a team that dares to push creative and technical limits. The NYX Game Awards exists to recognise those creators who elevate the industry to new heights. This season’s winners demonstrate the innovation, ambition, and craftsmanship that continue to drive the global gaming industry forward.” Basically, it’s the industry’s way of saying, “You guys are killing it, keep going.”
The timing of this double victory couldn’t be sweeter. 2026 marks MLBB’s 10th anniversary, and racking up these accolades feels like a birthday gift that the whole community can celebrate. With over 1.5 billion installations and a steady 110 million Monthly Active Users, the game isn’t just a pastime—it’s a cultural juggernaut that spans continents. These awards just cement what players have known for a decade: that the Land of Dawn doesn’t just look iconic, it sounds iconic too.
Let’s break down what makes the Metro Zero audio so special:
| Audio Element | Cultural/Genre Influence | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Vocals | Hokkien rap | Gritty, rhythmic, modern edge |
| Melody | Chinese folk instruments | Timeless, emotional depth |
| Beats | Electronic Dance Music (EDM) | High energy, futuristic pulse |
| Texture | Cyberpunk sound design | Glitchy, metallic, immersive |
It’s a tall order to marry all these styles without creating a messy sound stew, but MTS pulled it off with finesse. The studio has been quietly raising the bar for mobile game audio, and now the whole world is listening.
To wrap this up with a bit of casual honesty: if you’ve ever found yourself humming a MLBB battle theme long after you’ve closed the app, you already know MTS was on to something huge. The NYX Game Awards just made it official. Here’s to another decade of earworms and epic soundscapes from the team that never stops pushing the envelope. 🎧✨