Tencent’s renowned mobile MOBA, Honor of Kings, is now accessible in India. This might change the country’s growing gaming market. This is a big deal for Honor of Kings India because it will show off local talent to the whole world. This is a sensible step into India’s gaming business, which boasts over 500 million gamers. For years, a lot of people have been using VPNs to get around the limitations while they waited for the game to come out. The launch opens up new esports prospects in India, allowing a new generation of Honor of Kings players to compete professionally, earn sponsorships, and create long-term careers in a market that is estimated to reach $3.9 billion by 2025.
Honor of Kings: From China to the Whole World
Honor of Kings, which came launched in China in 2015 as Wangzhe Rongyao, is presently the most popular mobile game in the world. More people play it than League of Legends: Wild Rift. The TiMi Studio Group made it for Tencent Games. It has fast-paced 5v5 combat, a lot of different heroes with different skills, and a lot of strategy that both new and experienced players will love. You may play the game for free, and it gets seasonal updates that add new skins, maps, and balance tweaks. This has kept it on top.
The first time India comes out is at the right time. People were ready for it because teases on social media before the release had millions of views. Honor of Kings for India is the same game as the original, but it has Indian-inspired skins and mythical heroes like Lu Bu and Diaochan to make it more relevant to Indian culture. This is not the same as the Arena of Valor version that has been filtered and is available in other countries. Tencent Gaming India’s goal is in line with the company’s other goals, such putting money into local publishers and events. Honor of Kings is a significant reason why esports on mobile devices are getting more popular.
Esports are getting more popular in India, which is a great place for new players to join in.
The esports scene in India has grown from a small hobby to a large enterprise. In 2025, the business grew by 20% from the year before, mostly because games like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) and Free Fire gave away more than ₹100 crore in prizes every year. GodLike Esports and Soul are two companies that have helped stars make millions of dollars at each tournament. But mobile MOBAs like Honor of Kings fill a big gap.
Key numbers show what might happen:
According to the KPMG India Gaming Report 2025, 568 million people in India play video games, and 90% of them do so on mobile phones.
Esports was viewed by 200 million people in 2025. That’s as many people as watched cricket highlights on YouTube Gaming and Loco.
The best esports players in India make between ₹5 and ₹20 lakhs a month. This covers their pay, endorsements, and money they make from streaming.
The debut of Honor of Kings India gives things a new boost. Tencent has promised ₹50 crore in prize money for Indian qualifiers. This money would be added to other leagues, such as the King Pro League (KPL). This makes it easier for more people to play. Honor of Kings runs well on mid-range Android devices, which are common in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This is not the same as PC-heavy games that need high-end systems.
How to get started with Honor of Kings and open up esports prospects
The initiative allows India’s over 50,000 semi-pro players real chances to play esports. Here’s how players of Honor of Kings can get them:
Players can start by using the in-game client to play in online open qualifiers for grassroots tournaments and qualifiers. After that, they can continue on to regional showdowns in Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai. Like with BGMI’s feeder system, the champions move on to the national finals, where they can win up to ₹10 lakh.
Team Building and Scouting: Esports teams like Team Tamilas and Orangutan are already looking for Honor of Kings teams and duos. Mid-laners or supports who are good at heroes like Angela and win 60% of the time or more are the best. Battlefy and other sites have scrims every day.
Content Creation Synergy: Streamers on YouTube and Rooter can make money by playing Honor of Kings and getting following before they become pros. Dynamo Gaming, which has 15 million members, could change how it does things by combining “best Honor of Kings builds India” guides with live tournaments.
Experts agree with the good news. “Honor of Kings brings AAA-quality MOBA esports to mobile phones, making it easier for Tier-2 talent to get involved,” says Rajeev Chabra, CEO of NODWIN Gaming. We need people to help us with events like BGIS. Aditya “Ghatak” Seth, an expert in esports, also warns of problems: “High competition means players need to learn macro strategies and how to work together as a team early on—India’s aggressive playstyle is perfect for this.”
Women who play esports also gain. Tencent’s “Queens of Kings” program and other like ones could help close the gender gap in esports by letting women like those from XSpark lead all-women leagues. Right today, only 10% of pros are women.
Problems and rules in the gambling industry in India
When you start something new, there will always be problems. India’s 28% GST on gaming and worries about “real-money” elements have lowered expectations, but Honor of Kings’ cosmetic-only monetization doesn’t have the same problems that real-money skill games do. Tencent moved servers to Mumbai to lower ping times to less than 50ms because they were worried about data security and new rules that would go into effect after 2023.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is a competitor that is very popular in Southeast Asia but not so much in India. Honor of Kings, on the other hand, boasts better visuals, can run at 120 frames per second, and lets people from all around the world play with each other. Anti-cheat measures are very important for keeping gamers; Tencent’s VaMP system blacklisted more than 500,000 cheaters around the world in 2025 alone.
When the government helps businesses, they do well. The Ministry of Youth Affairs set up a ₹500 crore esports fund in 2025 to help pay for training academies. States like Uttar Pradesh and Telangana have gaming centers that could lead to Honor of Kings dynasties like China’s Chengdu AG.
Outside the Arena: Effects on Society and the Economy
Honor of Kings India is not just a game; it also creates jobs. By 2027, there will be 10,000 direct esports positions, such as coaches (₹3–5 lakhs/year) and analysts and commentators. Merchandising, fan events, and even eateries with hero themes may bring in ₹200 crore a year.
People in rural areas can play since Jio and Airtel offer affordable internet access. Hindi dubbing and regional leaderboards make the game easier for more people to play. Pranav, an 18-year-old from Pimpri, Maharashtra, who won the pre-launch betas, is an example of the dream: going from a small computer cafe to being a pro around the world.
What India Does to Bring the World Together
Tencent wants India to be in the Honor of Kings World Cup by the middle of 2026. In this competition, Indian teams would face teams from Korea and Japan. If they win here, it may be like Free Fire’s world title in 2022, which would make the country proud.
Honor of Kings is now available in India, and it’s a game-changer that allows players who want to improve a lot of options to play esports.
