Tencent and Level Infinite have announced a $15 million investment to build a robust esports ecosystem for the popular mobile MOBA, Honor of Kings. Jan M. Jahnke, Lead for Global Esports Products at Level Infinite, shared the news on Twitter.
The primary goal is to propel Honor of Kings into the global esports spotlight. Tencent, the game’s publisher, is strategically expanding its global reach, with a planned release throughout 2024 in regions like North Africa, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East.
A key element of the esports initiative is the Honor of Kings Invitational Series, featuring two seasons annually with LAN finals. Season 1 finals will take place in Istanbul, Turkey. Tencent also plans to establish localized leagues in regions where Honor of Kings is launched, mirroring the successful Pro League setup in Brazil.
In addition to the Invitational Series, teams will participate in the Midseason Invitational tournament, boasting a $1 million prize pool. This move aims to maintain competitive momentum between main seasons, providing additional opportunities for teams to showcase their skills internationally.
Joe Zoghbi, CEO of Emirati esports organization Divine Vendetta, expressed enthusiasm on Twitter, highlighting the investment’s potential to “support both local and global tournaments, with a focus on nurturing talented players and teams.” Divine Vendetta actively publishes games in the Middle East and North Africa, collaborating with Level Infinite and Tencent to publish Honor of Kings.
While details about the year-end Invitational Championship remain undisclosed, the $15 million investment marks a significant leap for Honor of Kings in establishing itself as a global esports scene.
