Mobile Legends: Bang Bang could be facing stiff competition in the Philippines’ MOBA scene soon.

Tencent’s Level Infinite arm has finally launched Honor of Kings on the global stage, bringing the mega-hit mobile MOBA to new regions and countries, including Japan, South Korea, North America, Europe, and the Philippines.

The move marks a significant expansion for a title that’s already established itself as a dominant force in China. To ensure a smooth experience for its international audience, Level Infinite has deployed a global server network with support for 14 languages. Tencent is also promising low latency and optimal performance courtesy of dedicated servers in each launch region.

Chinese players can migrate their data if they choose to make the jump to international play, as regulatory hurdles prevent global cross-play between the Chinese and international versions of Honor of Kings.

In the world of Honor of Kings, there are many legendary heroes, each with countless stories. But we truly believe the most exciting story will be yours!

Fearless! Unstoppable! Honor of Kings is now officially launched globally! Let's Play Together, Win as One!#HonorOfKings pic.twitter.com/sa0AFtAG2h

— Honor of Kings (@HonorOfKings) June 20, 2024

Trailer

For the uninitiated, Honor of Kings is a classic hero-based MOBA for mobile devices where players duke it out in strategic 5v5 matches. The game boasts a diverse roster of heroes with unique abilities, alongside stunning visuals, intricate battlefields, and a musical score composed by heavyweights like Hans Zimmer, Joe Hisaishi, and Howard Shore. Tencent has also emphasized a “free-to-play, fair-to-win” philosophy, ensuring victory hinges on a player’s skill — not his or her wallet size.

To celebrate the global launch, Honor of Kings introduces Lu Yana, a brand-new hero exclusive to the international edition. Players will have access to a total of 85 characters, with a generous 28 available for free use right off the bat.

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Developed by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio, Honor of Kings first launched in China in 2015. This global expansion brings the title to over 160 countries, solidifying its position as a true mobile MOBA behemoth.

Tencent claims Honor of Kings is already the world’s biggest MOBA, boasting a staggering 200 million registered users and a daily active player base of 100 million. It’s no surprise then that the game raked in nearly $1.48 billion in in-game revenue in 2023, making it Tencent’s highest-grossing mobile title that year, according to AppMagic, a market-intelligence firm.

It will be interesting to see how MLBB responds to this new competition. Will they introduce new features or enhance localization efforts? One thing’s for sure: MOBA players in the Philippines will soon have a compelling new option to explore with nothing to lose but time.

Tencent’s press release for the Philippine market

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