Honor of Kings challenges MLBB with $12 million investment in Malaysia

As a part of global expansion of its esports scene, Honor of Kings has announced massive investment of $12 million in Malaysia.

The reveal was made on the occasion of the 2026 Lantern Festival featuring popular content creators from the country, including Ayla Aniq, Alieff Irfan, and Lukman Musa.

As part of this initiative, Level Infinite will support the growth of Malaysian Honor of Kings creators through product and content co-creation, global travel opportunities, collaborations with top celebrities, and more.

Moreover, the first-ever hero of Malaysian ethnicity will be added to the game, similar to the upcoming release of an Indian hero in June.

Currently, some of the best Honor of Kings teams in the region are competing in MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026 for a slot at the Honor of Kings World Cup and Challengers Cup.

The league has expanded to 10 teams this year, with the entry of Saudi Arabian esports organisation ROC Esports being one of the main highlights.

Honor of Kings Aiming to Compete With Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has dominated the global market for years, becoming the second most-watched esports title of 2025 after League of Legends, and is currently leading the charts in 2026.

Honor of Kings, on the other hand, has started investing heavily across multiple regions such as South Asia and Southeast Asia in hopes to capture a larger share of the market.

However, it certainly has the potential to attract a massive audience, which is evident from the fact that the Honor of Kings KPL Grand Finals 2025 was the most-attended esports tournament in history.

As League of Legends: Wild Rift is nowhere in the picture, the battle between the two MOBA titles will be interesting to watch. Regardless of which side comes out on top, it will ultimately be beneficial for the ecosystem and fans alike.