Table of Contents
Executive summary
Honor of Kings (HoK) is no longer just China’s mega-MOBA. Level Infinite rolled out a global launch on June 20, 2024, opening official servers—including the Philippines—and immediately climbing local app charts. HoK is marketed as the world’s most-played mobile MOBA with ~100M daily players, and the global version surged past 50 million downloads in its first month. That scale plus clear esports storylines (Invitational Series, SEA/PH qualifiers, Esports World Cup) and creator programs (official creator portal, cash contests, a “Million-Dollar Creator” initiative) has become a magnet for PH streamers and short-form video makers.
The ripple effect: content niches reset, brands re-evaluate budgets beyond incumbents, and esports orgs explore dual-title strategies. Below, we break down the why, the data, and a 90-day action plan to grow sustainably—without resorting to clickbait or flame wars.
1) The new gravity well: scale, timing, and proof points on Honor of Kings
- Global launch with PH servers: TiMi Studio Group and Level Infinite confirmed the worldwide rollout for June 20, 2024, expanding beyond early markets (e.g., Brazil, Türkiye, MENA). The Philippines was in the first wave—and local social feeds show how quickly the game rose in PH rankings.
- Audience & momentum: On its official site, Level Infinite positions HoK as the most-played mobile MOBA with ~100M DAU. After the global launch, third-party coverage reported 50M+ downloads outside China in the first month, reinforcing a genuine global appetite.
- Local traction: Press updates highlighted PH store peaks shortly after launch. While rankings fluctuate, early heat matters for creators because it signals discoverability windows on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Creator-visible wins: One of the Philippines’ biggest MOBA streamers, ChooxTV, publicly joined HoK’s creator roster in late 2024, giving hesitant streamers “social proof” that HoK collabs and brand work are viable.
Takeaway: The shift isn’t just trend-hopping; it’s a timed bet on (1) server accessibility, (2) content algorithms that reward “new but mass-market” titles, and (3) structured incentives for creators.
2) The esports spine that creators can wrap content around on Honor of Kings
HoK’s dev-publisher cadence is aggressively event-led, giving creators a calendar of story arcs:
- HoK Invitational Series with SEA and PH-specific qualifiers—including a Philippines Qualifier (May 24–26, 2024)—followed by a main event in Kuala Lumpur (June 29–July 7, 2024). That means local narratives (PH teams qualifying) and regional rivalries—gold for thumbnails, watch parties, and “explainers.”
- Esports World Cup (EWC) inclusion: HoK competitions formed part of the EWC slate with seven-figure prize pools—massive discovery moments, broader esports traffic, and crossover viewers who don’t usually touch MOBAs.
- Official HoK esports hub highlights special events (e.g., Riyadh tournament windows) and amplifies global storylines that creators can localize (PH analysis, Tagalog breakdowns).
Why this matters: Even if a creator doesn’t stream ranked grind, event-driven content—tier lists before playoffs, “how PH meta differs,” coach cams, or “day-after” tactical breakdowns—monetizes consistently because it latches onto predictable spikes.
3) The money map: programs, contests, and brand logic of Honor of Kings
- Official creator portal & studio: HoK runs an application-based creator platform for perks, assets, and missions—centralizing briefs and rewards. For PH creators frustrated by slow emails and vague deals, this is a clear on-ramp.
- Cash contests & activations: Local pages promoted content contests with pooled cash rewards (e.g., USD 30,000) and mission-based incentives. These are low-friction milestones for small-to-mid channels to fund consistent output.
- “Million-Dollar Creator Project”: Official posts tease a global support/reward scheme for outstanding creators—creator economy oxygen that incentivizes quality, not just quantity.
Why brands follow: New titles with hard dates (launches, tournaments) yield predictable traffic surges. Brands can sponsor challenge weeks, IRL meetups, device tests, and “pro-am” scrims with measurable conversions.
4) Content whitespace: 14 formats PH creators can own now on Honor of Kings
New-player scaffolding
- Role primers (Jungle, Mid, Roam) with Tagalog/Eng-Taglish explainers.
- Hero unlock path + budget skin value reviews for SEA wallets.
- Beginner macro: rotation timing, objective trades, vision basics.
Esports-adjacent
4) Patch TL;DR in 90 seconds before qualifiers.
5) PH meta vs. international: pick/ban trends with simple charts.
6) Coach board: how one draft wins lane-pressure to end games in 14–18 minutes.
Community & culture
7) Creator collabs: PH duos/trios “from ML to HoK” without tribalism.
8) IRL shorts: device thermals & battery tests while pushing 60 fps in Cebu or QC noon sun.
9) Localization: Tagalog hero voice lines + cultural deep dives (short, respectful).
Monetizable long tail
10) Live VOD coaching (members-only).
11) “Road to Top 500 PH” with transparent MMR logs.
12) Myth-busting: latency fixes, crosshair placement, aim assist nuances.
13) Device tier lists (budget → flagship) + real gameplay benchmarks.
14) Parent’s guide: time limits, toxicity filters, and spending controls.
UAAP Esports Tours: Amazing Collegiate Valorant & MLBB Surge
5) For esports orgs & student leagues: how to expand without overextending on Honor of Kings
- Dual-title rosters: Keep MLBB while adding a HoK tryout lane. Convert former academy players into HoK specialists; use the same performance staff.
- PH campus circuits: Partner with schools to host HoK “learn & play” days, scrims, and shoutcasting workshops. This builds talent funnels and brand goodwill.
- Production templates: Standardize overlays (scorebug, draft ticker), mandate royalty-free music, and archive VODs with chapter markers (draft/key fights/objectives) for replay revenue.
6) Risks & misconceptions on Honor of Kings (and how to handle them)
- “It’ll be a quick fad.” HoK isn’t a brand-new app; it’s a 2015 behemoth finally going global, with institutional esports support and Level Infinite backing. That gives it staying power beyond a hype month.
- “Creators are just switching for money.” Incentives exist—but the audience base, servers, and events matter more. If viewers stick, creators will, too.
- “You must choose MLBB or HoK.” False dichotomy. Many channels succeed by covering both—using editorial calendars to avoid content cannibalization.
- “No PH angle.” There are PH qualifiers, PH teams, PH creators onboard, and PH store peaks—ample local hooks.
7) Numbers that creators and marketers can trust
- Global rollout with NA/EU/JP and more on June 20, 2024, following earlier regions.
- 100M+ DAU positioning (global franchise statement).
- 50M+ downloads in the first month outside China (global version).
- HoK Invitational structure with SEA/PH qualifiers → Main events.
- EWC inclusion with multi-million prize pools, mainstreaming visibility.
- PH creator signings (e.g., ChooxTV).
- Creator programs: official studio/portal, cash contests, and million-dollar initiatives.
8) A 90-day growth plan for PH creators that wants to start on Honor of Kings (copy-paste template)
Days 1–14: Foundation & discovery
- Publish schedule: 3 shorts + 2 long videos/week (set days).
- Series #1: “HoK 101 in Tagalog” (5 episodes: roles, objectives, vision, drafting basics, comms etiquette).
- Thumbnail system: bold hero art + PH flag color accents + 3-word promise (“Jungle Path Fast”).
- Live: 2 streams/week with poll overlays; pin responsible play & privacy practices.
Days 15–30: Esports tie-in & collabs
- Series #2: “PH Meta Watch” (pre/post-patch).
- Collab #1: co-op with a device reviewer for FPS/battery tests.
- Shorts pack: top 5 outplays per week; micro-tutorials (≤30 s).
- Apply to HoK Creator Studio; join cash contests for proof of output.
Days 31–60: Format expansion
- Members-only VOD reviews; sell value without paywalling everything.
- Live co-casts of PH qualifiers or scrims (respect rules/footage rights).
- Community day: open lobbies with conduct rules and moderation.
Days 61–90: Monetize with integrity
- Sponsorship pack: media kit with CTR, retention, members, and HoK campaign case study.
- IRL meet-up in a café/uni hall: mini clinic + quiz + device showcase.
- KPIs: session watch time, shorts >10K views, Discord growth, newsletter subs, and sponsor QR scans.
9) For brands & agencies: how to buy Honor of Kings creator media smartly
- Pick formats, not just faces: buy series (e.g., “PH Meta Watch”) and tentpole weeks (patch drops, qualifiers, EWC), not only one-off shout-outs.
- Require measurement: hours watched, average view duration, new player conversions (pre-reg or download links), event RSVPs.
- Creator labs: co-develop how-to content that reduces player churn (settings guides, economy tips, device optimizations).
- Be platform-native: shorts for reach → long-form for depth → streams for community; adapt creative per platform.
10) Ethics & safety (non-negotiables)
- No hate campaigns: Avoid “game vs. game” smear. It alienates overlapping audiences and reduces sponsor appeal.
- Protect minors: moderation rules, slow mode, and clear spending/parental controls segments.
- Disclose ads: branded content rules on FB/IG/YouTube/TikTok; tag sponsors and avoid deceptive pricing.
11) What success looks like in 6 months
- Audience: +50–100% average views with steady retention >38% on 8–12-min videos.
- Revenue: 2–4 recurring sponsorships (device, data plan, snacks/energy, accessories) tied to tentpole weeks.
- Community: active Discord/FB group with weekly Q&A threads; members-only VODs.
- Esports touchpoints: 1–2 watch parties per split, collabs with PH teams/players, and educational shorts after each patch.
Final word
PH creators aren’t just chasing the next shiny thing—they’re responding to infrastructure: official servers, global growth, creator incentives, and a calendar of esports peaks. If you build for those truths—plan content around patches and qualifiers, measure the right KPIs, and treat community care as strategy—you won’t just ride the Honor of Kings wave. You’ll own a corner of it.
Call to Action (for creators, teams, and brands)
- Creators: Comment your current niche (guides/entertainment/esports), avg views, and platform mix. I’ll suggest a 7-day mini-plan and 3 video hooks that fit your data.
- Teams/Orgs: Share your tryout dates and broadcast capacity; we’ll outline a plug-and-play community tournament with overlays and sponsor slots.
- Brands/Agencies: Drop your KPI priorities (reach vs. sign-ups vs. retail). I’ll mock up a tentpole calendar and ad integrations around patches and qualifiers.