Honor of Kings 2025: Regional Champions, Global Dreams
Honor of Kings 2025: Regional Champions, Global Dreams, and the Road to Manila
A Decade of Promise: Ten Years of Legends
Ten years in gaming is an eternity. Most titles fade into obscurity long before they hit that milestone. Yet Honor of Kings has not only survived but thrived, cementing itself as one of the most influential mobile esports titles in the world. Honor of Kings 2025: Regional Champions, Global Dreams, and the Road to Manila.
The Decade of Promise celebration in 2025 wasn’t just a nostalgic look back—it was a bold statement about the future. Collaborating with Sanxingdui, one of China’s cultural treasures, the game introduced four hero skins designed under the creative direction of filmmaker Zhang Yimou. This wasn’t just cosmetic flair; it was a fusion of ancient artistry and modern digital storytelling.
Then came Garuda Khageswara, a hero inspired by Indonesian mythology, expanding the game’s cultural footprint. Add to that the global theme song, Atlas of Tomorrow by JJ Lin, and you have a franchise that knows how to blend culture, music, and myth into a cohesive esports universe.
The numbers speak volumes: 260 million monthly active users worldwide in 2025. That’s not just a player base—it’s a digital nation.
Nation Clash: Regional Pride on Display
The 2025 Honor of Kings Nation Clash was Southeast Asia’s proving ground. Six elite teams from Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia clashed in a four-day spectacle that showcased not just skill, but national pride.
Team Malaysia, represented by Homebois x Black Shrew Esport (HBSE) and Alpha Gaming, dominated the finals with a clean 4-0 sweep against Team Philippines, which fielded Blacklist International and WeTrnd Esports. The victory wasn’t just decisive—it was emphatic.
The standout? GuiYu, who walked away with the FMVP title after delivering tournament-defining plays. His performance wasn’t just about mechanics; it was about composure under pressure. That’s the kind of player who doesn’t just win games—he defines eras.
For me, this is where esports shines. It’s not just about the prize pool (though the US$40,000 purse was nothing to sneeze at). It’s about the stories. The rivalries. The moments when a player like GuiYu becomes a household name in the region.
Women Take the Stage: Honor of Queens Tournament
While the Nation Clash grabbed headlines, the Honor of Queens Women’s Tournament Malaysia 2025 carved out its own historic moment. Featuring 24 teams from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, the tournament was a celebration of female talent in esports.
The finals saw APG Angels (APGA) defeat NL Gaming (NLG) in a best-of-five showdown. The 2:1 victory wasn’t just about winning a title—it was about proving that women belong at the highest levels of competitive gaming.
This is a development I’ve been waiting for. Esports has long been criticized for its lack of inclusivity, and tournaments like this are a step toward correcting that imbalance. For young female players watching from home, seeing APG Angels lift that trophy is more than inspiring—it’s a signal that the path is open.
KIC2025: Manila Becomes the Global Stage
With regional battles concluded, all eyes now turn to Manila, Philippines, the host of the 2025 Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC2025). From November 14–30, the city will transform into the epicenter of mobile esports.
The tournament will unfold across two venues: Shooting Gallery for the group and knockout stages, and the Activity Center at Ayala Malls Manila Bay for the grand finals. The stakes? A US$1,000,000 prize pool and the chance to etch a team’s name into global esports history.
The lineup is stacked. SEA’s finest will be joined by champions from Brazil, the Major East and West Leagues, and qualifiers from the Last Call and Phoenix Reborn tournaments. Beyond the trophy, the FMVP will receive an exclusive skin, while fans can look forward to the reveal of a brand-new Jing KIC Esports skin.
As someone based in Manila, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride. Hosting KIC2025 isn’t just about the games—it’s about putting the Philippines on the global esports map. For local fans, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the world’s best compete on home soil.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Esports Roadmap
If 2025 is the celebration, then 2026 is the expansion. Honor of Kings has laid out an ambitious esports roadmap that promises to elevate mobile gaming to new heights.
The year kicks off with the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 4 (KIS4), followed by the Regional Pro Leagues Spring Season and another round of the Nation Clash. Midyear, the spotlight shifts to the Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC at EWC26), a global tournament designed to rival the biggest esports events in the world.
The calendar closes with the Regional Pro Leagues Fall Season and the highly anticipated KIC2026. If KIC2025 is Manila’s moment, then KIC2026 will be the franchise’s chance to prove that it can sustain momentum and continue to grow its global footprint.
My Take: Why This Matters
I’ve covered esports long enough to know that hype comes and goes. Titles rise, peak, and fade. But Honor of Kings has managed to do something rare: it has built an ecosystem. Not just tournaments, but a culture. Not just players, but communities.
For readers, the benefit is clear. If you’re a player, this ecosystem means more opportunities to compete, more chances to be discovered, and more pathways to a professional career. If you’re a fan, it means better tournaments, richer stories, and a front-row seat to the evolution of mobile esports.
And let’s be honest—there’s something thrilling about seeing Manila host a million-dollar tournament. It’s proof that esports isn’t just a pastime anymore. It’s an industry. A culture. A global stage where Southeast Asia isn’t just participating—it’s leading.
Fans can catch all the action in Honor of Kings esports on the official Honor of Kings Twitch.tv (@HOK Esports), Facebook (@HOK Esports), official website, YouTube (@HOK Esports) channel and TikTok (@HOK Esports).
For more information on Honor of Kings news and updates, be sure to follow the game’s official social channels:
Instagram:@HOK Esports
Facebook: @HOK Esports
Twitter: @HoK Esports
YouTube: @HOK Esports
Twitch: @HOK Esports
TikTok:@HOK Esports
