Honor of Kings, one of the biggest 5v5 MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games), is making waves across the globe.
You may have heard of it by its international name – Arena of Valor.
Honor of Kings is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that has been a phenomenon in China with over 100 million daily active users.
Developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Tencent, it initially launched just in China in 2015 before expanding to other markets in 2017 as Arena of Valor.
But now the developers have decided to double down on the original Chinese version, Honor of Kings, for international expansion with the help of Level Infinite (its International Publisher).
Spreading to New Markets
Just today, Honor of Kings launched in a huge wave of new regions:
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
- Türkiye
- Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
- South Asia
Brazil was actually the first international market to get the original Honor of Kings version back in March 2023.
But this 2024 expansion represents the game’s biggest global push yet.
Over 2 million players had already pre-registered when the latest expansion was announced.
That’s a clear sign of the pent-up demand and hype around this title.
The game is available for both iOS and Android.
What’s in Store for Honor of Kings Fans?
To celebrate the global launch, Honor of Kings has some exciting treats in store for players:
- Free Hero Frenzy: All 72 heroes will be available for players to try for a month, allowing them to explore the diverse roster and find their perfect match.
- Iconic Crossovers: Brand tie-ups with Hello Kitty and SNK mean players can get their hands on official themed skins and items, adding a touch of nostalgia and style to their gaming experience.
The Rise of Honor of Kings Esports
But the excitement doesn’t stop there! Developers are also gearing up to expand the game’s global reach with a complete roadmap of esports events for 2024.
Here’s what esports fans can look forward to:
- Intercontinental Invitational: Next month, Istanbul will host the Intercontinental Invitational, boasting a massive $300,000 prize pool. The competition kicks off with the group stage on March 2, followed by the quarterfinals on March 7, the semifinals on March 9, and the grand finale on March 10.
- Esports World Cup 2024: The spotlight will also shine on the $3 million midseason invitational at the Esports World Cup 2024, showcasing the game’s global appeal and the fierce competition among the best players worldwide.
Developer’s Vision
A big factor is the game’s emphasis on being widely accessible yet highly skilled.
Chief game designer Dean Huang explained that the team prioritized keeping the file size small to run on more devices. But they didn’t sacrifice graphics quality.
Huang also stressed the game’s focus on fair competition based on skill rather than paying for gameplay advantages.
Global producer Neo explains the game will be crafted according to global audience tastes with local characters and language support.
The developer will also establish a local server for smooth gameplay.
More than 1,000 developers have iterated on the game over 40 major updates to hone this competitive experience.
With massive esports investments, brand partnerships, and an engaging free-to-play model, Honor of Kings certainly has the potential to become the next big mobile esports phenomenon worldwide.
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