Following the highly anticipated official launch of Tencent’s Honor of Kings in India earlier this year, the local mobile MOBA scene has experienced a massive competitive surge. This momentum recently culminated in the thrilling conclusion of the HOK King’s Arise India Qualifiers. Serving as a direct gateway to the international stage, the qualifiers saw the region’s elite squads battle intensely for a chance to represent the country globally.
Ultimately, the top 2 teams successfully punched their tickets, securing their slots to compete at the prestigious Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Riyadh.
In light of this massive milestone, InsideSport caught up with Dean Huang, Producer of Honor of Kings, to discuss the game’s tailored approach to the Indian market, cultural representation, local creator investments, and the future of Indian esports on the global stage.
HOK Is Tailoring the Experience for India & Cultural Localisation
Q.1 – How is the game being tailored specifically for the Indian audience in terms of cultural representation and in-game events?
Dean Huang: India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and we are focused on delivering meaningful localisation efforts that feel substantive to our local community. For example, we recently held a Hindi voice line co-creation event, inviting Indian players to submit their own voice texts to celebrate Indian culture. The response was incredible; we received a wide range of submissions, and through player voting, the selected voice lines will be featured in the upcoming new hero release.
We are also building a player experience that reflects India’s strong community culture through local campaigns, creator-led initiatives, campus and city activations, and regionally relevant in-game moments. Our approach is to combine global gameplay excellence with locally resonant storytelling, events, and community engagement that make Indian players feel more connected to the game.
Crafting an India-Inspired Hero and Gameplay Balance
Q.2 – With the upcoming introduction of an Indian character, what was the creative process behind ensuring this hero resonates with local players while maintaining the game’s global balance?
Dean Huang: The development of any new hero in Honor of Kings follows a rigorous global framework that balances creative storytelling with competitive gameplay. For the Indian-inspired hero, we have paid particular attention to cultural authenticity in visual design, backstory, and thematic elements, to ensure it resonates with local players. At the same time, extensive gameplay testing ensures the character fits seamlessly into the existing roster, maintaining fairness and balance across global competitive play.
Empowering Local Creators: The ₹10 Million HOK Studio Program
Q.3 – The initial incentive for the HOK Studio program is worth ₹10 million. How will this fund be distributed between emerging grassroots creators and established influencers?
Dean Huang: The HOK Studio program worth ₹10 million is designed to support creators across the spectrum, from emerging grassroots talent to established creators. Participating creators will unlock a suite of exclusive benefits — Phase-one cash rewards, in-game tokens and exclusive in-game rewards, official traffic support for top-performing creators, early access to upcoming content and updates, and potential participation in special creator missions and campaigns.
10,000,000 Indian Rupees for YOU! The Content Creator Incentive Program is officially open. It’s time to turn your creativity into rewards and claim your share of the pool.Join the HOK Studio revolution today – t.co/wLHw8fc5HP#HOKStudio #HonorOfKings #HOK… pic.twitter.com/9hKIsKRhgl
— Real Honor of Kings India (@HOKIndia) April 18, 2026The program is open to Honor of Kings content creators based in India, spanning a wide range of formats including short videos, livestreaming, guides and tutorials, entertainment and fan content, and esports coverage. Creators at all stages, from emerging talent to established names, are welcome to apply, as part of our effort to cultivate a diverse and thriving local content ecosystem. The goal is to build a diverse and sustainable creator ecosystem, rather than focusing only on reach or scale.
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Dean Huang: The ₹10 million creator fund is part of our launch-phase commitment to accelerate creator participation in India, and support the Indian ecosystem long-term. HOK Studio is one pillar of a broader strategy that includes ongoing creator programs, esports pathways, and community initiatives, which we will continue to evolve as the ecosystem grows.
Q. 5 -Besides cash and tokens, HOK Studio offers “official traffic support.” Can you elaborate on how Tencent will use its platforms to help Indian creators reach a global audience?
Dean Huang: Official traffic support refers to amplification opportunities across Honor of Kings’ owned and partner channels. This includes featuring creators on official social platforms, integrating them into campaign moments, supporting creator missions, and enabling early access to content updates. The objective is to help Indian creators scale their visibility not just locally, but within the broader global Honor of Kings community.
Honor of Kings Is Expanding to Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities
Q. 6 – Following the North East College Campus Tour and City Tours in major metros, what are the plans to reach Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where mobile gaming growth is highest but infrastructure may still be evolving?
Dean Huang: Following the North East College Campus Tour and City Tours, we are planning activations beyond metro cities. Our strategy is to combine on-ground activations with scalable digital-first initiatives such as online tournaments, creator-led community engagement, and accessible participation formats.
Q. 7 – The King’s Arise India Qualifier offers two slots for the KWC at EWC26. How important is it for the Indian ecosystem to have representation on the global stage?
Dean Huang: Global representation is critical for the growth of any esports ecosystem. The King’s Arise India Qualifier offers Indian teams a chance to step onto the global stage, elevating the competitive standard domestically while showcasing India’s talent to the world. It’s an important step in integrating India into the broader Honor of Kings esports ecosystem.
Q. 8 – Given the history of global gaming apps in India, what measures has Level Infinite/Tencent implemented to ensure compliance with India’s evolving data sovereignty and gaming regulations?
Dean Huang: We take compliance, player safety, and data security very seriously. Our operations are aligned with applicable Indian laws and regulatory requirements, including data protection and responsible gaming practices. As the regulatory landscape evolves, we remain committed to working with relevant stakeholders and ensuring that players in India have a safe, secure, and compliant gaming experience.
Honor of Kings Producer Dean Huang Reveals How the ₹10 Million Fund Will Empower Indian Gaming Creators Inside Sport India.
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