Honor of Kings, Tencent’s massively popular mobile game, is set to make its international debut in 2024.
From February 21, the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game will be available in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as Eastern Europe and South Asia, according to an announcement from TiMi Studios, Tencent’s in-house gaming studio responsible for creating Honor of Kings. The game first ventured out of China in 2023, starting in Brazil.
Globally, approximately 100 million users, most of whom are in China, play the game every day. The game has become a household name in its home market, challenging gender stereotypes in gaming, pioneering mobile esports, and popularizing “loot boxes,” or randomized in-game rewards that may or may not have a monetary value.
Thanks in part to its success with loot boxes, Honor of Kings has been a tremendous financial success for Tencent. In December, it was the world’s second-highest-grossing mobile game, behind only Monopoly Go!, according to market research firm Sensor Tower.
Most of these revenues came from China. Despite its enormous success at home since its launch in 2015, the game has faced challenges abroad. TiMi first attempted to introduce the title to overseas users in 2017, when Arena of Valor was launched as a Westernized version of Honor of Kings. The game never gained significant traction, and industry observers attributed its lackluster performance to management missteps and a failure to fully grasp Western culture.
Level Infinite is Tencent’s latest move to correct its global expansion strategy. Founded in 2021, it’s based in Singapore and Amsterdam and serves as the Chinese internet giant’s international publishing arm.
As of February 6, Honor of Kings had amassed over 2 million pre-registrations across MENA, Eastern Europe, and South Asia, indicating some initial interest in these regions.
Tencent is eager to replicate the game’s domestic success with esports on the global stage. This upcoming summer, Honor of Kings will participate in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, offering a $3 million prize pool to 12 competing teams.
With its booming gaming population, the MENA region will be an important test for Honor of Kings’ second attempt at global expansion. The game is scheduled to enter North America, South America, and Western Europe later this year.
