Members of the Philippine gaming and pop culture community gathered at Opus Mall for a high-energy night of film, nostalgia, and fandom as Warner Bros. Philippines and The GAME brought Mortal Kombat II to life.
Time to enter the arena!
Held recently, The GAME, together with Warner Brothers Philippines, brought fans and creators together for a special screening of Mortal Kombat II. Opus Mall served as the night’s venue partner, transforming its VIP cinema into a full-on battleground where nostalgia met cinematic spectacle.
Several personalities from the industry pulled up for the screening, adding to the night’s charged atmosphere. From content creators like Locar Gaming to iconic personalities including Alodia Gosengfiao, the guest list reflected the growing intersection between gaming culture and mainstream entertainment.
A growing arena
Kicking off the evening was Modern Media Group Inc. COO and The GAME publisher Anne Bernisca, who formally welcomed the brand deeper into the gaming space as part of its expanding ecosystem alongside Rolling Stone Philippines, Billboard Philippines, and Robb Report Philippines.
“For us, it’s not just about observing culture, we want to be part of it, we want to grow it, and we want to amplify it,” Bernisca shared, emphasizing that the night was more than just a screening.
She highlighted how gaming today goes beyond being a hobby, it serves as a space for storytelling, competition, and more importantly, connection. More than anything, the Huddle not only stood as a gathering for a community, it also continues to shape the culture.
“This community understands that gaming is no longer a hobby. It’s storytelling, it’s competition, and camaraderie at the same time. It’s connection, it’s identity, so that’s why it’s very important for us,” Bernisca said.
Following this, Sid Ventura, Chief of Editorial Content of The GAME, emphasized how initiatives like the Huddle aim to empower the Filipino gaming community.
“Through events like this, The GAME continues to expand its conversation, from sports and athletes to the wider culture surrounding them, including esports, gaming, and everything in between,”
It’s fight night.
Before the screening, Bonch Santos, Marketing Lead of Warner Bros. Discovery welcomed guests into the arena, encouraging everyone to fully embrace the experience, through catching easter eggs and reacting to every hard-hitting moment and all the fatalities.
“This film is specifically for you guys, the ones who grew up mastering combos, fatalities, and hearing the iconic words echo in your heads, FINISH HIM,” Santos said.
Once the film rolled, the cinema came alive. Cheers broke out at familiar characters, iconic lines echoed across the room, and every finishing move drew energy from a crowd that grew up with the franchise.
Finish him.
The guests stayed for post-screening socials, exchanging reactions, breaking down favorite scenes, and connecting over a shared love for the iconic franchise. The screening turned into a full-circle community moment. It bridged gaming, film, and culture in one night.
And as Bernisca closed, the message was clear: this is only the beginning. With more Huddles on the horizon, The GAME is set on building more spaces where gamers, creators, and fans can come together, not just to watch, but to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
This marks The GAME’s first Huddle dedicated to the gaming community and it’s only the beginning.
With more spaces like this in the future, the brand continues its push to bring together gamers, creators, and fans, shining a spotlight on a community that’s not just growing, but already world class.
Images by Enzo Santos.
Frequently Asked Questions
The GAME Huddle is a community event series by The GAME, Modern Media Group’s sports and gaming brand, bringing together gamers, creators, and fans. The Mortal Kombat II screening at Opus Mall marked the brand’s first Huddle dedicated specifically to the gaming community.
Guests at The GAME Huddle screening included content creator Locar Gaming, personality Alodia Gosengfiao Quimbo, esports figure Eric “Eruption” Tai, and members of pro esports team AP Bren, reflecting the growing crossover between gaming culture and mainstream Filipino entertainment circles.
The GAME partnered with Warner Bros. Philippines to host the Mortal Kombat II screening at Opus Mall, which served as venue partner and transformed its VIP cinema into the event space for the Filipino gaming and pop culture community.
Anne Bernisca, COO of Modern Media Group and publisher of The GAME, said the brand wants to actively grow and amplify gaming culture rather than simply observe it, describing gaming as storytelling, competition, connection, and identity for its community.
The GAME plans to hold more Huddle events following the Mortal Kombat II screening, continuing its push to expand conversations from sports and athletes into esports, gaming, and the wider culture surrounding Filipino gamers, creators, and fans nationwide.
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