During the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 event, James Yang, Senior Director of the Global Esports Center at Level Infinite, presented plans for the competitive scene of Honor of Kings in 2025, with an investment of $15 million (about BRL 88 million) in the title’s global ecosystem.
Among the new features are the creation of seven professional regional leagues, the introduction of the Honor of Kings Campus Series, and details about upcoming global tournaments such as the KWC (Honor of Kings World Cup) and the KIC (Honor of Kings International Championship).
Nova Esports was crowned champion of the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 by defeating Nongshim RedForce in the tournament’s final. The team secured the majority of the $300,000 prize (about BRL 1.7 million).
Expansion of Regional Leagues
Six new regional leagues — PKL, MKL, IKL, WKS, KME, and KMW — will join the King Pro League (KPL), the main professional league of the game in China. The expansion aims to strengthen the competitive ecosystem of the title in different regions.
The KPL, the first professional league of Honor of Kings, has had a significant economic impact in China. According to data from the China Audio-Video Copyright Association, the KPL created over 100,000 job opportunities.
The KPL 2024 Grand Final, held in Beijing, generated 303 million RMB in direct economic benefits and 669 million RMB in indirect benefits. The 2025 Grand Final will be held at the Beijing National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest.
Global Tournaments and New Formats
The KWC will take place in July, during the Esports World Cup, while the KIC will return in November. For the first time, the global champions will face the winner of the KPL Spring Season.
The Honor of Kings Open Series, which aims to expand access to the competitive scene, had over 150,000 registered players in Split 3.
The format returns with Split 4, with details expected to be announced mid-year. Additionally, the Honor of Kings Campus Series will be launched in 92 countries and regions, with a global prize pool of $100,000 (about BRL 588,000), aiming to integrate amateur players into the competitive ecosystem.
Innovative Format
Invitational Season 3 also marked the global debut of the Global Ban&Pick format, first adopted by the KPL in 2018. The mode allows for a greater diversity of choices during matches. In the tournament, 71 Heroes were selected, highlighting the strategic variety of the title.
With these new initiatives, Level Infinite seeks to establish Honor of Kings as one of the leading titles in the global competitive scene.
