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Mikhail Red (director), Friendly Fire, 2024. 112 min.

As esports continue to gain traction in the Philippines, Filipino players such as Ohmyv33nus, Wise, Kuku, Biancake, and Alodia Gosiengfiao are making their mark on the global stage. Mikhail Red’s 2024 film Friendly Fire captures this momentum by telling the story of Team Isla, a fictional esports team competing in the invented game Project Xandata. The film follows their journey as they aim to win the Project Xandata Grand Prix in Hong Kong, shedding light on the passion, struggles, and camaraderie that define the Filipino gaming community.

The film opens with the departure of Team Isla’s star player Adrian Go (Jan Silverio), known in-game as Reaper, who leaves to join the Korean team DEFCOM—an early and significant loss for Team Isla. This move not only disrupts the team’s dynamics but also highlights the allure of international opportunities for Filipino players seeking greater exposure and support. Faced with the challenge of rebuilding, the visionary CEO of Team Isla, Sonya Wilson (Coleen Garcia-Crawford), discovers Zel (Loisa Andalio), an employee at Clicktopia, a fictional internet café in the Philippines. Known online as Kaya, Zel attracts attention after defeating Team Isla members Ryan (Harvey Bautista), known as Sm1le, and Von (Yves Flores), known as Delver, in an online match—marking the beginning of her journey into competitive esports.

Sonya visits Clicktopia and offers Zel a place on Team Isla, impressed by her skills as a marksman despite her use of an old mouse nicknamed Mickey. However, before finalising the offer, and in order to verify her legitimacy amid rumours of aimbot use, Sonya puts her to the test. Initially reluctant to accept due to her role as her family’s breadwinner, Zel ultimately decides to join Team Isla to pursue her dream of becoming an esports player.

The film tackles several pressing issues within the esports industry, including job security, gender inequality, and the need for institutional support. Kuya Ong (Bob Jbeili) notes that most professional players retire by the age of twenty-five due to physical and mental strains such as carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, and financial instability. Gender inequality is underscored when Sonya tells Zel that esports remains a male-dominated field, despite the growing presence of female players. The lack of local support is also evident when Adrian departs for Korea to hone his skills in an environment where the industry and its players enjoy stronger backing.

Red’s direction and storytelling skilfully combine fiction and realism, providing viewers with an intimate look at the esports world. The film emulates the structure and energy of real tournaments through familiar elements such as commentators, shoutcasters, and gameplay sequences. By presenting Project Xandata, a fictional game that mirrors the mechanics and intensity of actual titles, the film maintains authenticity while granting creative freedom. Production design, sound editing, and visual effects all contribute to an immersive esports atmosphere. Beyond the gaming arena, Friendly Fire explores the personal growth of Team Isla’s members, revealing their vulnerabilities and struggles. Ryan, who has been expelled from school, and Von, a dropout, reflect the instability faced by many young gamers, though their arcs remain underdeveloped. By contrast, Zel’s character is more fully realised: having entered the workforce immediately after graduating from high school to support her family, she represents the hardships endured by many Filipinos striving to survive. Meanwhile, Sonya’s trajectory from gamer to CEO exemplifies determination and resilience in a male-dominated field. These storylines humanise the characters and heighten the significance of their triumphs.

Friendly Fire is more than an esports drama—it is a cultural statement. From grassroots gaming in internet cafés to professional competition, the film emphasises the determination of aspiring players facing financial constraints, family responsibilities, and gender bias. Zel’s story reflects the untapped potential within local communities and the barriers that often obstruct their rise. Sonya’s role reinforces the message that women can lead in the esports industry; as Team Isla’s CEO, she defies stereotypes and exemplifies how leadership roles traditionally held by men can be successfully redefined. The film might have broadened its representation by including more nuanced perspectives, such as those of LGBTQIA+ players and gamers from rural areas. With the rise of women and LGBTQ+ players like Ohmyv33nus, Alodia Gosiengfiao, and Biancake, the Philippine esports scene is becoming increasingly diverse, though still male-dominated. Government recognition of esports as a legitimate sector is reflected in the establishment of Team Sibol as the national team and in the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Science and Technology and the Esports World Federation.

By fusing fiction with realism, Friendly Fire offers a timely and emotionally resonant look at the Philippine esports landscape, highlighting the diversity, progress, and challenges faced by the gaming community. Through the characters of Zel and Sonya, the film questions conventions, celebrates resilience, and underscores the transformative power of opportunity and representation.

Red’s film pays tribute to the passion and perseverance of Filipino gamers as esports continue to flourish in the Philippines. It reminds us that talent can emerge from unexpected places, and that with proper support the gaming community can foster inclusivity, growth, and success.

How to cite: Trajano, Bryan Elijah. “A Glimpse of Filipino Gamers’ Lives in Mikhail Red’s Friendly Fire.” Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, 11 Sept. 2025, chajournal.blog/2025/09/11/friendly-fire.

Bryan Elijah Trajano earned his MA in Philippine Studies—Language, Culture, Media from De La Salle University in 2024, following the completion of his AB in International Studies at Far Eastern University in 2017. By day, he serves as a Customer Service Officer in an Australian BPO; by night and on weekends, he devotes himself to his passions—watching films and reading books. He has presented his research at numerous academic conferences and has published several critical reviews and scholarly works. Profoundly curious about global cultures, he delights in exploring diverse traditions and narratives through media and literature. [All contributions by Bryan Elijah Trajano.]

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