Smart Communications, Inc. stepped up as the main presenter of the Philippine GameDev Expo (PGDX) 2026, using the country’s premier game development event to spotlight its new partnership with Blacknut, which is a move that officially introduces the Philippines’ first cloud gaming platform to millions of Smart and TNT subscribers.
A Landmark Cloud Gaming Deal
The expo, held July 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City under this year’s theme “PGDXpandin,” drew developers, publishers, content creators, and gaming enthusiasts from across the industry, with the event featuring more than 160 indie developers alongside game demos, talks, and workshops. As the show’s headline sponsor, Smart used the platform to demonstrate how its tie-up with Blacknut, its Power All data offers, and its nationwide mobile network are converging to reshape how Filipinos play.
The Blacknut partnership, which Smart formally announced just days before the expo, gives subscribers access to a catalog of more than 1,000 console- and PC-quality games (including major franchises like NBA 2K, For Honor, Asphalt, Overcooked!, and various LEGO titles) streamed directly through a mobile browser without downloads or dedicated gaming hardware. Industry outlet TheFastMode described the tie-up as an “exclusive partnership” aimed at democratizing premium gaming experiences for Filipino mobile users who would otherwise need expensive consoles or gaming PCs.
How Filipinos Can Get In on the Action
Signing up is designed to be frictionless. Subscribers register with their Smart or TNT mobile number and pay a weekly subscription starting at ₱145, billed straight to prepaid load or postpaid accounts after a quick OTP verification; no credit card or complex account setup required. Once verified, users can start playing within seconds via blacknut.com/p/smart.
At the Smart booth during the three-day expo, attendees got hands-on time with Blacknut Cloud Gaming and could join interactive activities for a chance to win prizes, including exclusive gaming skin codes. Smart also used the floor space to promote its Power All plans, which bundle generous open-access data for gaming, streaming, content sharing, and productivity needs into a single offer.
Executive Take
“Gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing passions among Filipinos, and Smart is committed to enabling richer digital experiences through reliable connectivity and meaningful partnerships like Blacknut,” said Lloyd R. Manaloto, FVP and OIC of Smart. He added that the company’s presence at PGDX “reflects our commitment to supporting the local gaming community while making innovative gaming experiences more accessible to more Filipinos.”
Backed by an Award-Winning Network
Smart’s cloud gaming push leans heavily on its network credentials. The telco recently earned Ookla’s Best Mobile Video Experience and Best Mobile Latency recognitions for the Philippines, based on Speedtest Intelligence data from the third and fourth quarters of 2025. Smart posted a Video Score of 78.60 (the highest among mobile operators nationwide) reflecting fast video start times, minimal rebuffering, and consistent full-HD-or-higher playback. Ookla President and CEO Stephen Bye called the result “a testament to their industry-leading performance.”
Those same network attributes are what make real-time cloud gaming viable on mobile data in the first place, since the platform processes graphics and game logic on remote servers and streams the video feed back to the player’s device.
Expanding the Local Gaming Ecosystem
Smart’s PGDX showing is part of a broader strategy to build what the company calls a “complete gaming ecosystem,” pairing dependable connectivity with entertainment services that put premium gaming within reach of a wider Filipino audience. With PGDX 2026 already extending to a second leg (a companion event is set for August 3-5 at the Iloilo Convention Center) Smart’s cloud gaming push looks positioned to travel with the expo beyond Metro Manila. As mobile gaming and cloud-based entertainment continue to grow among Filipino consumers, the Blacknut tie-up gives Smart a concrete answer to hardware cost as the biggest barrier to premium gaming access.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
