Honor of Kings eyes continued growth in Philippines

The Honor of Kings International Championship at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

Honor of Kings

MANILA, Philippines — For Honor of Kings (HoK), 2025 was a defining year in the Philippines. The esports calendar for the popular mobile MOBA both opened and closed with major events in the country, with the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 and the Honor of Kings International Championship signaling the game’s growing influence on Filipino gamers.

“[The country's hosting] is a testament to Honor of Kings’ commitment to provide the best gaming and esports experiences to the Philippine gaming community. It’s also a nod to our everlasting line — ‘Welcome kayo rito,’ or ‘Everyone is welcome here’ — no exceptions,” said Angelica Neri, Level Infinite’s senior esports manager, told Philstar.com.

These events didn’t just showcase competitive play — they sparked a surge in community engagement and team participation.

“Within the Philippines, we saw a growth not only in the viewership and offline audience but also in the number of teams interested in joining the esports scene. One evident event is, of course, the Open Series, where any team can join and get the opportunity to enter the Philippine Kings’ League and international tournaments, such as what happened with ACT Esports Club and Elevate,” added Neri.

For publisher Level Infinite, 2025 was all about strengthening its foothold in the local market.

“2025 has been a year of meaningful growth, stronger community building, and clearer proof that our titles truly resonate with Filipino players. The year was all about building foundations. We were able to build stronger foundations and have proven that Filipinos deeply connect with our titles, setting ourselves up for even bigger things come 2026,” said Benj Dalmacio, senior business development manager at Level Infinite.

With the groundwork laid, Level Infinite is setting its sights on deeper engagement and bigger opportunities for Filipino gamers in the coming year.

“As we move forward, we’re committed to bringing more content, better player experiences, more meaningful rewards, and a continuously thriving esports ecosystem to Filipino gamers. Our key goal is to deepen player value and long-term loyalty by evolving from just delivering great games to building a truly rewarding ecosystem and inviting community for Filipino gamers,” said Dalmacio.

Fans can expect more localized tournaments, enhanced competitive pathways, and community-driven initiatives, especially for Honor of Kings as the game fires off the 2026 season with the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 4 at the end of the month.

Top Filipino teams Blacklist International and Boom Esports will once again be representing the country in the tournament happening offline in Jakarta, Indonesia.