Honor of Kings Global Expansion: Esports, Strategy, and Future Growth

Updated On: August 23, 2025 by     Aaron Connolly  

Key Milestones in Honor of Kings Global Expansion

Honor of Kings started as China’s biggest mobile game and, through some pretty savvy moves, turned into a global gaming juggernaut. The team rolled out localized gameplay in 160+ countries but somehow kept that original spark that made it a hit in the first place.

Worldwide Server Launch and Language Localisation

They kicked things off by placing servers in just the right regions. Global servers popped up in multiple spots, so players everywhere could jump in without annoying lag.

Language support was a big deal from the start. The dev team translated everything—character lines, item names, menus—so it all felt natural wherever you played.

But they didn’t stop at translation. Each region got its own cultural tweaks, which helped the game click with local players while keeping the MOBA core.

They built the tech so players could battle folks nearby, which kept connections stable and gameplay smooth.

Right away, they set up ways for the community to give feedback. Player suggestions actually shaped future localization and content tweaks.

Strategic Vision for International Growth

Tencent’s expansion plan zeroed in on proven markets first. Brazil was their testbed in March 2023, and Honor of Kings held the top download spot for a month straight.

That win in Brazil gave them the green light to go bigger. They leaned on data—revenue and player engagement—to pick their next moves, especially across Southeast Asia.

They’ve poured $15 million into competitive gaming for 2025. That covers everything from grassroots leagues to big international tournaments.

The International Championship (KIC) branched out too. The Philippines even hosted for the first time, showing they really want to boost local esports scenes instead of just focusing on one region.

Research pointed out the best places to go next. Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore quickly became top priorities.

Global Launch and Market Entry Highlights

When the game launched globally on 22nd June 2024, it smashed expectations. Honor of Kings shot to number one in downloads in six different markets at once, especially in Southeast Asia.

The numbers proved people everywhere want solid MOBA games. The global rollout racked up 21 million downloads outside China, with 8 million just from the new regions.

Revenue matched the hype. New markets pulled in $4.7 million from in-app purchases, with the US, Indonesia, and Malaysia leading the way.

Growth looked a bit different in each region, but the overall pattern was up. The game landed in the top three MOBA downloads for June in Indonesia, the US, and the Philippines—even though it launched mid-quarter.

Tencent reported a wild milestone: 200 million registered players worldwide, with 100 million logging in daily. That’s just massive for a mobile MOBA.

Role of Level Infinite and TiMi Studio

Two companies really drive this global push: Level Infinite takes care of publishing, while TiMi Studio Group handles development and day-to-day operations.

Publishing and Development Leadership

Level Infinite publishes Honor of Kings everywhere outside China. They’re a Tencent company focused on taking mobile games worldwide.

They juggle the tricky rollout process, handling localization in 14 languages and launching in North America, Europe, Japan—you name it.

TiMi Studio Group builds and runs the game itself. They’re Tencent’s top game dev team, and somehow got over 100 million people playing every day.

TiMi sets up global servers and tech to keep the game running smoothly everywhere.

They also keep the content fresh. The team balances the original MOBA feel while tweaking features for different cultures.

Investment and Resources for Global Success

Both teams get to lean on Tencent’s deep pockets. Tencent’s the world’s biggest gaming company, so if anyone can bankroll a global expansion, it’s them.

Level Infinite spends big on marketing in target regions. They partner with local influencers and gaming communities to get the word out.

TiMi has ramped up their tech infrastructure a lot. Setting up servers all over the world isn’t cheap, but it’s crucial for smooth gameplay.

They’ve added more dev resources to handle all the regional versions. TiMi even split into teams just for localization and regional tweaks.

They also boosted customer support, with multilingual help and local community managers so players feel heard.

James Yang and the Leadership Behind Expansion

James Yang leads the global esports push at Level Infinite as Senior Director of the Global Esports Centre. He’s behind the £11.5 million investment fueling Honor of Kings’ international growth and setting up regional leagues in six new areas.

Vision of James Yang

Yang’s vision is all about opportunity for everyone. He wants Honor of Kings to be a game where casual players, college students, and pros all find their place.

He laid out this roadmap at the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3. Instead of just growing tournaments, he’s aiming for a “truly global ecosystem”.

Accessibility is at the heart of it. Yang made sure grassroots competitions don’t have rank restrictions. Over 150,000 players signed up for Split 3 of the Honor of Kings Open Series.

He mixes pro esports with community building. Yang supports university competitions in 92 countries and set up a £77,000 prize pool. That’s genuine investment in developing talent from the ground up.

Level Infinite Global Esports Centre Initiatives

Under Yang, the Global Esports Centre launched six new regional leagues:

• Philippines Kings League (PKL)
• Malaysia Kings League (MKL)
• Indonesia Kings Laga (IKL)
• Wildcard Kings League (WKS) – covering Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Hong Kong, and Macau

They also set up the Major East League (KME) and Major West League (KMW), joining the existing leagues in China and Brazil.

The centre plans two big global tournaments for 2025. The Honor of Kings World Cup will happen in July at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. The Honor of Kings International Championship follows in November.

Yang created the Honor of Kings Partnership Programme to work with established esports orgs. He calls it a “win-win way” to help groups that are serious about growing the game.

Expansion of Regional Professional Leagues

Honor of Kings rolled out seven regional pro leagues in places like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brazil, and more. Each league offers solid prize pools and direct spots in global tournaments. They all run with synced seasons and similar formats, so the whole thing feels connected.

Establishment of Seven Regional Leagues

These regional leagues are a huge leap for Honor of Kings’ competitive side. Now, we’ve got seven leagues: Indonesia (IKL), Malaysia (MKL), Philippines (PKL), Brazil (CHOKBR), Wildcard (WKS), Major East (KME), and Major West (KMW).

Each league runs about eight weeks. Indonesia and Malaysia offer the biggest prize pools at $60,000 each. The Philippines league comes next with $45,000, and both Major East and West hand out $50,000.

Wildcard and Brazil leagues offer $20,000 each. All the leagues kicked off Season 2 on 22nd August, so everything lines up and fans can follow the action everywhere.

Teams qualify through Open Series tournaments. Split 3 alone saw over 150,000 players jump in.

Features and Structure of the Leagues

Every league sticks to a standard setup. Teams play regular matches, then move to playoffs. Winners grab automatic spots at the Honor of Kings World Cup in Riyadh.

Key points:

• Duration: 6–8 week seasons
• Format: Regular season plus playoffs
• Qualification: Direct KWC spots for winners
• Broadcasting: Live on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok

Leagues run on their own but follow the same rules. Since all the seasons are in sync, fans get to watch cross-region rivalries and stories unfold.

Teams don’t just chase prize money. The real goal? Qualifying for the 18-team Honor of Kings World Cup, where regional champs finally get to challenge the KPL Spring Season Champion.

Involvement of New Esports Organisations

This expansion pulled in a bunch of new orgs. Teams make it in through Open Series qualifiers, not by invite. That means even smaller or amateur orgs get a shot at the big leagues.

A lot of these teams started in grassroots competitions. The Open Series lets underdogs prove themselves based on performance, not just reputation or money.

Regional growth brought in local sponsors and partners. Now, orgs from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have direct paths to international play. Brazilian teams finally got their own league, too.

Heads up, though—not every new org has pro-level experience. Some teams might struggle with things like media, travel, or other pro requirements.

The synced seasons help newbies learn from the pros. Teams can watch what works in other regions and tweak their own strategies.

Global Esports Ecosystem

Honor of Kings put up £12 million to build a competitive ladder that connects casual gamers to pro leagues. The system now covers grassroots tournaments in 92 countries and eight regional pro leagues feeding into global championships.

Pathways from Grassroots to Pro

The competitive journey starts with totally open tournaments. The Honor of Kings Open Series ditches rank limits, so anyone can jump in—no matter their skill.

Students get their own route through the Campus Series. This program runs in 92 countries, with an £80,000 prize pool. Universities can register teams, battle locally, and move on to regional finals.

Regional pro leagues sit at the top. There are eight now:

• King Pro League (KPL) – China
• Honor of Kings Brazil Championship (CHOKBR) – Brazil
• Philippines Kings League (PKL)
• Malaysia Kings League (MKL)
• Indonesia Kings Laga (IKL)
• Wildcard Kings Series (WKS) – Multiple regions
• Major East League (KME) – Korea, Japan, MENA, Southeast Asia
• Major West League (KMW) – Americas, Europe, Turkey

Each league saves spots for open qualifiers. So, if you’ve got the skills, you can go pro—no big sponsorships or partnerships needed.

Esports Strategy and Community Development

Level Infinite goes for local partnerships instead of trying to control everything themselves. They team up with organisations like OG Esports, Gen.G, and Virtus.pro in each region.

Their £12 million investment hits three main areas:

• Infrastructure – Broadcasting equipment and tournament venues
• Talent development – Coaching programmes and player support
• Community engagement – Local tournaments and fan events

Two global championships set the rhythm for the year. The King World Cup (KWC) takes place during the Esports World Cup in Riyadh every July.

The King International Championship (KIC) runs in November and usually offers huge prize pools—2023, for example, had £8 million up for grabs.

Regional winners get to compete at these global events. This setup gives amateur players a clear path from local tournaments to the world stage.

Honor of Kings Invitational and International Championships

The Honor of Kings global tournament system revolves around two big competition formats that really show off the game’s worldwide appeal.

For 2025, the season brings some major changes. Players can look forward to dedicated hero skins for champions and more storytelling content that draws fans closer to the action.

KIC 2025: Format and Innovations

The Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC) 2025 brings back its original branding, after just being called “Championship” in 2024.

This November event introduces some pretty interesting additions.

For the first time, the KIC 2025 champion will actually get a dedicated hero skin. That’s a big deal, connecting real-world victories to the in-game universe.

The top three teams from KIC 2025 will also grab spots at the 2025 Honor of Kings Challenger Cup. Elite teams get a clear next step beyond the main championship.

Key Changes for 2025:

• International Championship branding returns
• Champion hero skin reward
• Challenger Cup qualification
• $15 million invested in the global ecosystem

Chinese teams won’t compete in KIC 2025. They’ll stick to their own KPL Grand Finals, which lets regional champs from elsewhere really shine and keeps things internationally focused.

Global Storytelling Through Tournaments

Honor of Kings tournaments have become platforms for telling stories about different playstyles and cultures in esports. Each major event brings out something unique from the global community.

The Invitational Series runs through several seasons every year, so there’s always a new storyline. Season 1 happened in Istanbul, and Season 2 reached both Europe and North America.

Tournaments in Jakarta, Riyadh, and Istanbul have shown how Honor of Kings fits into local esports cultures. Organisers tweak the production to reflect each host region’s vibe.

The Esports World Cup in July adds even more storytelling moments. With a $3 million prize pool, it also serves as a qualifier for the International Championship.

Regional leagues keep the stories going all year, and teams bring their local successes to the international spotlight.

Behind-the-Scenes Content

Organisers now put more effort into content that highlights the human side of Honor of Kings competition. You’ll see player prep, team dynamics, and even cultural exchanges between international rivals.

The Global Esports Plan announced in January backs more content creation around big events. They’ve set aside investment for documentaries and player profiles.

Content Focus Areas:

• Player prep routines
• Cultural exchanges
• Team strategy talks
• Regional coaching styles

Production teams follow the journey from regional qualifiers to the championship finals. This gives fans lots of chances to connect with the scene, even between major matches.

Behind-the-scenes content especially helps explain why teams from different regions play the game so differently. Sometimes their strategies are worlds apart.

Open Series and Campus Initiatives

Honor of Kings is building up grassroots participation with two big community programs. The Open Series lets anyone join, no matter their rank, while the Campus Series targets university students in 92 countries with big prize pools.

Open Series: Structure and Participation

The Open Series breaks down the usual barriers that keep casual players out of esports. Unlike pro leagues with tough requirements, this tournament welcomes players of any rank or experience.

Recent numbers back up its popularity. Split 3 brought in over 150,000 registered players worldwide.

Key features:

• No rank requirements
• Open to everyone
• Multiple splits per year
• Pathway to higher levels

Split 4 launches in mid-2025, offering even more chances for new talent. Skilled amateurs can show what they’ve got and maybe catch the eye of professional teams.

With the game’s player base growing, participation should keep climbing. The format gives a realistic bridge from casual play to semi-pro competition.

Honor of Kings Campus Series Impact

The Campus Series zeroes in on university students, offering a focused competitive scene. It now covers 92 countries and regions, making it one of the biggest student gaming competitions out there.

A $100,000 global prize pool gets split between the regions. That’s a serious investment in university-level talent.

Programme benefits:

• Exclusive student competition
• Regional qualifiers
• Pro tournament experience
• Networking with industry pros

University esports programs often face funding and organisation headaches. The Campus Series helps by bringing structure and meaningful prizes.

This initiative lays the groundwork for student esports. Many pros get their start in university, so campus competition really matters for scouting and development.

Regional splits make sure students from different countries compete on fair ground. It’s a nod to the different skill levels and gaming cultures around the world.

Major Honor of Kings Tournaments

The biggest competitions in Honor of Kings esports are the global championships, where top teams from all over the world face off. The Honor of Kings World Cup is the crown jewel, and Team WE stands out as one of the scene’s most decorated organisations.

Honor of Kings World Cup Overview

The Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) is the top global event for this mobile MOBA. Level Infinite has poured resources into making this tournament their flagship competition.

The 2025 KWC lands in July at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This will be the first time global teams go up against the KPL Spring Season champion.

Prize pools for KWC events have reached some eye-popping amounts. The last one—the Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason 2024—offered $3,000,000 USD in total prizes.

Teams qualify through eight different regional leagues. These include the King Pro League (KPL) from China, Brazil Championship (CHOKBR), and new leagues in Southeast Asia and beyond.

KWC: Evolution and Prominence

The KWC has evolved quite a bit to become Honor of Kings’ most-watched tournament. It started out as the Honor of Kings Invitational, but rebranded to highlight its world championship status.

Champions from all major regional leagues compete here. The King Pro League winner usually enters as the favourite, thanks to China’s dominance in the scene.

Level Infinite’s $15 million investment in 2025 shows how serious they are about expanding the KWC’s global reach. This money helps boost prize pools, production quality, and regional development.

The format usually features best-of-five matches in knockout rounds. Teams have to adapt quickly since regional metas often clash at this level.

Millions tune in across platforms, especially in Asia where Honor of Kings has its largest player base.

Team WE: Achievements and Highlights

Team WE is one of China’s most established Honor of Kings organisations. They’ve secured their spot in the King Pro League for 2025, putting them among the top 16 Chinese teams.

The team also brings experience from other games like League of Legends. That background helps them stay sharp and develop strong strategies.

Team WE’s roster competes in KPL regular seasons. Their domestic performance decides their seeding for international events like the KWC.

With Honor of Kings going global in 2025, Team WE will need to prepare for international opponents who play the game in totally different ways.

They benefit from China’s advanced training infrastructure and coaching systems. This gives them a real edge over newer leagues that are still building up.

Partnerships and International Collaborations

Honor of Kings has formed strategic partnerships with top esports organisations and landed high-profile sponsorships to speed up its global growth. Their $15 million investment signals a serious push for international expansion through collaboration.

Collaboration with Esports World Cup

Honor of Kings made its mark at the Esports World Cup by locking in tournament spots and connecting with participating teams. Getting included in major international competitions boosts its reputation with global audiences.

Level Infinite kicked off the Honor of Kings Partnership Program in June 2024. This program brings together pro teams from all over the world and gives direct support to established esports organisations.

Key program benefits:

• Direct funding for teams
• Help with tournament entry
• Joint marketing opportunities
• Support for regional growth

James Yang, Senior Director at Level Infinite Global Esports Centre, calls the partnership “a win-win way” to back organisations committed to growing Honor of Kings.

The program aims to add even more teams down the line. That should create a strong network effect for the competitive scene.

Global Sponsorships and Alliances

Honor of Kings has landed hardware partnerships with major tech companies to reach new markets. Their collaboration with Infinix and MediaTek in August 2024 focuses on integrating the game into the wider gaming ecosystem.

These partnerships focus on regions where mobile gaming is huge. The alliances bring technical optimisation for different devices and network setups.

Strategic alliance areas:

• Hardware optimisation – device performance tweaks
• Regional marketing – localised campaigns
• Tournament infrastructure – technical support
• Cross-media content – anime and entertainment tie-ins

The focus on cross-cultural entertainment helps boost global recognition. Successful anime partnerships hint at even bigger media collaborations in the future.

Level Infinite keeps growing the partnership program with global organisations. The $15 million investment backs both direct team partnerships and wider ecosystem projects.

Cultural Impact and Community Engagement

Honor of Kings has evolved from a Chinese gaming hit into a global cultural force. The game connects people worldwide with local events and supports education and conservation efforts on a global scale.

Localised Events and Regional Pride

Honor of Kings builds cultural connections in every market with region-specific tournaments and celebrations.

When Black Shrew Esports crushed the competition at the 2024 Honor of Kings Championship in Malaysia, you could feel the pride everywhere.

Malaysian fans went wild. It wasn’t just about winning a game—it felt like the whole country had made its mark on the global esports stage.

Regional Tournament Success:

• Indonesia: #1 download rankings upon launch
• Philippines: Top 3 MOBA downloads in June 2024
• Malaysia: Home tournament victory with Black Shrew Esports
• Singapore: Immediate market penetration

The developers roll out exclusive heroes just for global markets. These aren’t simple reskins—they actually bridge the original Chinese vision with what local players want.

Every major market launch gets its own culturally relevant content. Players spot familiar themes and characters, so the global version feels like it truly belongs to them.

Educational Outreach and Inclusivity

Honor of Kings leans into real-world learning with its historical character system.

Researchers worked with 907 adult players and found the game really shapes how people see historical figures and events.

Players build real emotional bonds with these historical characters. That doesn’t just happen by chance—it’s a smart educational move that brings history to life through gaming.

Community Impact Initiatives:

• Conservation awareness campaigns
• Historical education through character backstories
• Cross-cultural understanding programmes
• Real-world environmental projects

The game’s community shows how mobile gaming can actually drive positive social change.

Recent conservation campaigns rallied support for endangered ecosystems, so esports fans proved they can make a real difference.

Honor of Kings tears down the usual walls in gaming communities. Players from all walks of life—different genders, ages, backgrounds—find inclusive gaming spaces that go way beyond just playing on a screen.

Future Plans and Long-Term Outlook

Honor of Kings aims to become the world’s top mobile esports title. The team’s putting $15 million on the line in 2025 to expand regional leagues and bring advanced gaming infrastructure to new markets.

Continued Regional Integration

Six new Regional Professional Leagues will launch in 2025, joining the KPL and CHOKBR systems.

PKL, MKL, IKL, WKS, KME, and KMW will open doors for local talent all over the world.

James Yang at Level Infinite highlights the open qualification system. Teams can jump in through open tournaments or regional qualifiers.

Indonesia already has 10 teams, with 8 officially recognised. Other regions will roll out similar partnership setups.

Two flagship tournaments will headline the year:

• KWC at Esports World Cup in Riyadh (July 2025)
• KIC International Championship (November 2025)

The KPL Grand Finals 2025 heads to Beijing’s National Stadium. That’s a pretty big sign of how much investment is pouring into regional growth.

Emerging Markets and Upcoming Features

Brazil’s March 2023 launch shot straight to the top of download charts. Then, in June 2024, the global rollout hit #1 in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and a couple more markets.

Economic impact data from China’s KPL shows some wild numbers:

• Over 100,000 jobs created
• 303 million RMB in direct economic benefits from the Beijing Grand Final
• 669 million RMB in indirect benefits

Southeast Asia is next up for major expansion. The Philippines will host KIC 2025, making it the first international championship outside the usual esports hotspots.

TiMi Studio Group’s games attract 100 million monthly active users, so they’ve got the infrastructure to back Honor of Kings’ growth.

The open tournament system keeps new talent flowing in, while partner teams stay steady.

Regional prize pools and sponsorships will follow the successful model from China, but adapted for each new market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Players everywhere have questions about Honor of Kings’ global rollout. From new features to regional tweaks, there’s a lot to cover.

The game went live in North America, Europe, and Japan on June 20, 2024, with special tweaks for each international market.

What new features can we expect in the international version of Honour of Kings?

The international version packs in several updates just for global players. There are enhanced tutorial systems to help new folks pick up the MOBA basics fast.

Matchmaking got smarter, taking regional playstyles into account. Voice chat supports several languages, so teams can actually coordinate.

Pre-registration rewards offer exclusive heroes and skins you can’t get anywhere else. Early birds scored the hero Ying and some special cosmetics.

The interface feels familiar for Western players. Menus look and act like what you’d expect if you’ve played other popular MOBAs.

How can players from different regions connect and play together in Honour of Kings?

Players connect across regions using the friend system and custom lobbies. You can add friends from other countries by searching their player IDs.

Regional servers keep connection speeds solid. Europeans play on European servers, and North Americans stick to their own.

Cross-region ranked matches aren’t possible because of ping, but casual and custom games do allow international play if the connection’s good enough.

Friend invites work globally for most modes. Voice chat auto-detects languages and even suggests basic translations for commands.

When will Honour of Kings be available for download in Europe?

Honor of Kings launched in Europe on June 20, 2024. You can download it now on the App Store and Google Play.

The release went live in all European countries at once. Players from the UK, Germany, France, and the rest of the EU all got access the same day.

Pre-registration opened a few weeks earlier. Early sign-ups got bonus rewards—diamonds, heroes, and exclusive skins.

Are there any cultural adaptations or changes in the global version of Honour of Kings?

The international version comes with some big cultural tweaks for Western players. Character designs got updates to appeal to global tastes, but the core game vibe stays the same.

A few heroes even have new backstories inspired by international mythology and history. Western players might find it easier to relate to these characters now.

The art style mostly sticks to the original, though some visual effects and animations got a refresh for international audiences.

Menus and interfaces follow Western design. Text reads left-to-right, and navigation feels like what global players expect.

What languages will be supported in the Honour of Kings’ global release?

The global version covers English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German. Voice acting is available in several of these.

Text translations cover menus, abilities, and tutorials. You can switch languages in the settings whenever you want.

Voice chat includes basic translation for common game phrases, so international teams can still work together.

Developers add new languages based on demand. If a region gets popular, expect more local options in future updates.

Will the global expansion of Honour of Kings include any exclusive content or events for international players?

International players actually get some exclusive content through regional events and tournaments. For example, the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 2 happened in Malaysia, and the prize pool hit US$300,000.

Pre-registration rewards rolled out just for international markets. Players got special hero skins and currency bundles that you couldn’t find in the original Chinese version.

Regional tournaments bring their own prizes and a bit of recognition. Local competitions in Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America all feature rewards tailored to those regions.

The esports ecosystem is getting a pretty big boost, with US$15 million set aside for 2025. This funding goes straight into grassroots tournaments and new pro leagues in different markets.

International content creators get some unique support programs too. These initiatives help grow local communities and sometimes give creators early access to new content.