If there's any genre that could claim the title of King of Esports, it would undoubtedly be the MOBA. Originating as a mod for Warcraft, this blend of real-time strategy and hack 'n slash action has seen countless iterations. While League of Legends currently holds the crown, Tencent's Honor of Kings is emerging as a formidable contender.
Today's esports news brings not one, but two significant updates. First, Nova Esports has been crowned the champion of the Honor of Kings Invitational season three, taking home the gold. This victory is a testament to their skill and dedication. Simultaneously, OG Esports, a powerhouse in the MOBA scene, has announced the formation of their own Honor of Kings team, signaling their intent to compete in future HoK tournaments.
These developments are a major win for both the competitors and Honor of Kings itself. One of the biggest challenges in building a world-class esports scene is attracting top talent, and Tencent's MOBA has achieved this with apparent ease.
Above and beyondIt's not difficult to see why this is happening. Honor of Kings boasts a dedicated fanbase in China that rivals that of League of Legends and surpasses many others. Esports serves as the icing on the cake, offering these fans a new way to engage with their favorite MOBA.
The question now is whether Honor of Kings can match League of Legends' impact on pop culture. While it did feature in the recent Amazon anthology Secret Level, Honor of Kings has yet to achieve a narrative impact on the scale of something like Arcane.
Could this change? It's uncertain, but what's clear is that in the realm of esports, Honor of Kings is now the arena where the very best are competing.
