Honor of Kings (HoK), a leading mobile game developed by Level Infinite, is making a bold move to enhance its global esports ecosystem with an investment of $15 million USD.
The announcement, made at the HoK Invitational Season 3 grand finals in Manila on March 1, 2025, reveals a comprehensive 2025 esports calendar. This investment promises to bring major changes to regional competitions, global tournaments, and grassroots events, establishing HoK as a dominant force in the esports industry.
The Rise of Regional Leagues: A Global Network
Honor of Kings has introduced an innovative structure for its competitive scene in 2025, with the creation of six new regional leagues set to launch this spring.
These leagues will complement the already established King Pro League (KPL) in China and the Honor of Kings Brazil Championship (CHOKBR), providing a robust competitive environment for players across the globe.
Here’s a breakdown of the new regional leagues and their key teams:
- Philippines Kings League (PKL): Teams like Boom Esports and Blacklist International will battle for supremacy, with 3 open qualifier slots available.
- Malaysia Kings League (MKL): Featuring teams like Team Secret and Nova Esports, this league opens doors for 4 qualifying teams.
- Indonesia Kings Laga (IKL): Including prominent teams such as RRQ and Bigetron Sigma, with 2 open qualifier slots.
- Wildcard Kings League (WKS): A league encompassing Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, with 2 open qualifier spots.
- Major East League (KME): Covering Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia, featuring teams like Gen.G and Nongshim Redforce, with 3 spots open.
- Major West League (KMW): This league spans the Americas, CIS, Europe, and Turkey, with teams such as OG Esports and Virtus.pro, and 3 open qualifier slots.
This regional expansion is a significant step for HoK, as it aims to foster more diverse talent and create a truly global competition network.
Global Tournaments to Define the Competitive Landscape
Building upon the success of previous events, Honor of Kings will also host two major global tournaments in 2025: the Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) and the Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC). These tournaments will provide an epic finale to the regional leagues, where the best teams from each league will compete for global supremacy.
- The KWC 2025 is set to take place in Riyadh, where global teams will face the top teams from China’s KPL in an unprecedented match-up.
- The KIC 2025 will be held in November, with a record-breaking prize pool expected, following in the footsteps of the $10 million prize at the 2023 event.
These tournaments are expected to continue the trend of offering substantial prize pools, driving player and viewer engagement to new heights.
Grassroots and Open Tournaments: Building the Future of Esports
To ensure a steady flow of new talent and increase accessibility to competitive gaming, Honor of Kings is also rolling out two grassroots initiatives for 2025:
- Honor of Kings Open Series: This open-for-all tournament will allow players of all skill levels to compete. The lack of rank restrictions offers a unique opportunity for newcomers to step into the esports world.
- Honor of Kings Campus Series: Aimed at students, this series will be held in 92 countries, offering a global prize pool of $100,000. It’s designed to encourage esports participation in educational institutions and help nurture the next generation of professional players.
These grassroots tournaments are integral to HoK’s vision of building a more inclusive esports scene, allowing players from diverse backgrounds to compete and grow in the competitive environment.
Key Details of the 2025 Esports Roadmap:
- $15 Million Investment: Aimed at strengthening regional leagues, global tournaments, and grassroots initiatives.
- Six New Regional Leagues: Expanding to countries and regions such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and more.
- Two Global Tournaments: The KWC and KIC will provide global exposure and massive prize pools.
- Open and Campus Series: Engaging players of all skill levels and age groups to build the esports community from the ground up.
A Bold Move Towards Global Esports Dominance
With a $15 million USD investment and an expanded esports calendar, Honor of Kings is solidifying its place as a major player in the esports industry.
The introduction of new regional leagues and grassroots events ensures that players worldwide will have opportunities to compete, while the KWC and KIC will set the stage for thrilling global matchups.
As the game continues to evolve, it is clear that Honor of Kings is committed to growing its esports scene and fostering new talent for years to come.
Honor of Kings Joins Forces with Jujutsu Kaisen: What Players Can Expect from the Epic Crossover