Honor of Kings," the globally acclaimed mobile game, is finally set to make its debut in India in June 2024, marking a significant phase in its global rollout. After much speculation and anticipation, the announcement was made, highlighting a strategic move by Level Infinite to penetrate one of the world’s largest mobile gaming markets.
The Transition from Clash of Titans to Honor of Kings India
In 2021, Indian players noticed a new game, Clash of Titans, which bore a striking resemblance to Arena of Valor but was published under the name Actoz SG. This move was seen as an attempt to circumvent the data privacy concerns that led to the ban of Arena of Valor in India by the ministry of electronics. Investigations into Actoz SG revealed its connections to China-based Shengqu Games, which further linked back to Tencent, hinting that Clash of Titans was essentially an Indian iteration of Arena of Valor tailored to meet regulatory approvals.
Despite these efforts, Clash of Titans did not manage to capture the Indian market due to limited marketing. The recent rebranding of the game’s Instagram account to “hokindia” signals a fresh start and renewed efforts to establish the game in India under the banner of Honor of Kings.
The Global and Indian Release Strategy
The announcement indicates that Honor of Kings will see a global release in June, with specific plans for India. The game has already been introduced in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and South Asia, with India being the next target in its phased rollout plan.
There is still ambiguity regarding whether the Indian version of Honor of Kings will be a separate entity or linked to the global version. Nonetheless, the game is currently accessible for download via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store under the title Clash of Titans.
Esports Ambitions in India
The transition to Honor of Kings in India is not just about the game's availability; it's also a move to integrate the Indian gaming community into the game's burgeoning esports ecosystem. The official communication from @hokindia hints at exciting developments in esports, aligning with a $15 million global esports roadmap. This indicates a significant investment in fostering competitive play and potentially establishing India as a key player in the Honor of Kings international esports scene.
The introduction of Honor of Kings in India represents a strategic move by Level Infinite and Tencent to capture the vast and rapidly growing mobile gaming market in India. With plans for esports and a phased global release, Honor of Kings is poised to make a significant impact in the region, bringing a new level of competitive gaming and community engagement to Indian players.
