Honor of Kings India Planned

Tencent-owned MOBA Honor of Kings may be launched soon in India as part of a phased global release, according to an official Instagram post from the Clash of Titans account, the localized Indian version of Arena of Valor (which is the international adoption of Honor of Kings outside of China published by Actoz Singapore). According to that post (seen here), the game will be rebranded to “Honor of Kings India” at a date yet to be determined officially.

Developed by TiMi Studios Group and handled by Tencent gaming brand Level Infinite, Honor of Kings is one of the biggest mobile franchises in the world, boasting 100M daily active players, and generating an estimated $248M USD through the global Apple App Store and Google Play stores in February, according to Sensor Tower data. Honor of Kings will also be part of the Saudi Arabian government-backed Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,  this summer and will feature a $3M total prize pool.

The move is part of Level Infinite’s plan to launch Honor of Kings globally in 2024 which was announced earlier this year. This news follows Tencent’s announcement of the Global Invitational Series, the new Honor of Kings esports circuit, and a $15M commitment to the growth of the Honor of Kings esports ecosystem.

The company also signed a multi-year deal with the Esports World Cup Foundation earlier this year to ensure that the game would be part of the multi-week gaming and esports festival for years to come. On Feb. 21, Honor of Kings launched in new regions including the Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye, Eastern Europe, and South Asia. 

A rebranded, localized version of the game would certainly be welcomed by stakeholders in India, given the game’s global footprint and popularity. India-based marketing and public relations firm Artsmith-Concepts & Visions shared the following comments from its clients on Tuesday morning:

Animesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, co-founder of S8UL:

“The release of Honor of Kings in India can be a game-changer for the country’s mobile gaming market. With its massive player base and global popularity, the game’s potential entry into India will attract a new segment of players and drive growth within the MOBA gaming community. The entire industry is anticipating the game’s official launch.”

Lokesh Suji, director of the Esports Federation of India and VP of the Asian Esports Federation:

“The introduction of Honor of Kings to the Indian video gaming landscape can play a crucial role in catalyzing the growth of Esports in our nation. With the game well renowned for placing a strong emphasis on Esports tournaments with lucrative prize pools, we anticipate a surge in competitive gaming in the country. Its release will also elevate the competition within the MOBA genre in India which will contribute to creating a sustainable Esports ecosystem based on multiple games. We are eager to witness the positive impact of the game on the country’s Esports community.”

Mrinmoy Lakhar (8Bit_Beg4Mercy), a popular gamer and content creator from S8UL:

“Honor of Kings marking its official launch in India will provide our Esports players with the opportunity to enhance their gameplay by competing against their international counterparts. With the game having laid out a well-structured roadmap for other regions, we hope that the Indian market will be prioritized in a similar fashion to grant our players ample opportunities to showcase their skills. Concurrently, gaming creators will find a fresh canvas in Honor of Kings. By curating unique content, creators will be able to cater to the game’s passionate audience and expand the reach of gaming in the nation.”

Rohit Agarwal, founder & director of gaming-focused marketing firm Alpha Zegus:

“One of the biggest mobile MOBA games ever, Honor of Kings very recently made its entry into the MENA region, and its entry in India is going to be very warmly welcomed, considering India loves MOBA. It’s going to go head-on with the likes of BGMI, which is currently the biggest MOBA game in India, and that would be quite interesting to watch. But I’m glad that the players as well as the audience will have more MOBA titles to try apart from BGMI, and if all goes well, our country might be represented at the Riyadh Esports World Cup. Fingers crossed that there are no pushbacks from the government on any compliances.”