Smart home innovation meets esports as Midea partners with Honor of Kings for one of the year’s biggest tournaments, the Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 (KIC 2025).

Midea Steps Into Esports

Global smart home appliance giant Midea has been announced as the Official Appliance Sponsor for KIC 2025, marking its first major move into the world of mobile gaming and esports. The international championship, set to take place in the Philippines, will feature 16 elite teams battling for the title of world champion.

Discover Happiness with Midea!

We’re excited to announce that Midea, one of the world’s smart home appliances brand, partners with Honor of Kings as the Official Appliance Sponsor for #KlC2025! 🔥

Midea brings innovation and comfort to your home, empowering players to perform… pic.twitter.com/rb7NZxfldZ

— HoK Esports (@HoKEsports) November 10, 2025

The collaboration celebrates Midea’s core philosophy of “Discover Happiness”, bringing technology, comfort, and performance together in both home life and competitive play.

From Football to Esports

Midea’s partnership with Honor of Kings is a surprising yet strategic move. The company is best known for supporting traditional sports, having previously partnered with FC Barcelona and the Asian Football Confederation. Its entry into esports reflects a growing trend of mainstream brands recognising gaming’s massive global audience and cultural impact.

By aligning with Honor of Kings, one of the world’s most-played mobile MOBAs, Midea is tapping into a younger, tech-savvy demographic that values both innovation and entertainment.

The KIC 2025 Experience

The Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 runs from November 14 to 30, featuring 16 top international teams competing for a $1 million USD prize pool and a coveted qualification spot for the Challenger Cup 2025.

The defending champions, HomeBois BSE (formerly Black Shrew Esports), will be back to defend their title against some of the best teams from around the world.

Adding even more flair to the event, Filipino pop sensation SB19 has been announced as the official music artist of KIC 2025. The group will perform the tournament’s anthem live before matches kick off, bringing music, culture, and esports together on one global stage.

For fans who can’t make it to the Philippines, every match will be streamed live across Honor of Kings’ official YouTube and Twitch channels, ensuring that no one misses the action.

Honor of Kings Continues Its Global Rise

Developed by TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent Games, Honor of Kings has become one of the most dominant forces in mobile esports. The game’s 5v5 team-based gameplay has captured millions of players worldwide, making it one of 2025’s most-watched competitive titles.

Just this past weekend, Honor of Kings shattered a Guinness World Record for the largest live audience ever recorded for an esports match, proving its immense global reach and growing influence.

With partnerships like Midea’s joining the fold, Honor of Kings continues to blur the lines between lifestyle, entertainment, and gaming, solidifying its place as a true global phenomenon.

The post Midea Joins Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 as Official Appliance Sponsor appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The stage is set for one of mobile esports’ biggest events of the year, the Honor of Kings International Championship 2025. Taking place in the Philippines from November 14th to 30th, this tournament will bring together the world’s best Honor of Kings teams for an action-packed showdown to close out the season.

🏆 The biggest moment arrives with HoK’s ultimate honor on the line — it’s time to Rise for Honor! #KIC2025 kicks off 14 Nov! 🔥#shinehok #2025HOK #HonorOfKings #HOKEsports pic.twitter.com/9lKY816J67

— HoK Esports (@HoKEsports) October 27, 2025

The Road to the 2025 Championship

As the pinnacle of the Honor of Kings esports circuit, the International Championship marks the end of a year filled with regional leagues, qualifiers, and thrilling upsets. Sixteen elite teams from around the globe have earned their place, ready to compete for the $1 million USD prize pool and the prestigious championship title.

The event will be played offline in Manila, marking a major moment for the growing Southeast Asian Honor of Kings community. Fans can look forward to intense matches and passionate home support, especially for the Philippines-based teams making their appearance.

Tournament Format and Schedule

While Tencent Games hasn’t yet confirmed the official tournament structure, the 2025 International Championship is expected to follow a similar format to last year’s event.

• Group Stage (November 14–17)
  Teams are expected to be divided into four groups of four, battling it out in a single round-robin format with best-of-three (Bo3) matches. The top two from each group will advance.
• Knockout Stage (November 20–29)
  The Playoffs will likely feature a double-elimination bracket, with all matches played in a best-of-five (Bo5) format.
• Grand Final (November 30)
  The two surviving teams will face off in an epic best-of-seven (Bo7) final to determine the 2025 world champion.

Teams to Watch

A total of 16 teams from multiple regions will battle for glory. Each earned their place through intense regional leagues and qualifiers throughout 2025.

Philippines Representatives

• Blacklist International (Kings League 2025 Fall winners)
• BOOM Esports
• Elevate
• A.C.T Esports Club

Malaysia Region

• HomeBois Black Shrew Esport (defending champions)
• Nova Esports
• Alpha Gaming

Indonesia Region

• Bigetron by Vitality (Kinga Laga 2025 Fall winners)
• Kagendra
• Vesakha Esports

Brazil Region

• Loops Esports (Brazil Championship 2025 Spring winners)
• Alpha7 Esports

Other Qualified Teams

• Nongshim Redforce (Major East League winners)
• OG Esports (Major West League champions)
• Twisted Minds (Last Call qualifier)

The final spot will be decided through the Phoenix Reborn Qualifier on November 11th, where WETRND Esports and Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) will battle for the last ticket to Manila.

The fans have chosen! @teamrrqofficial and wetrnd Esports are the top two voted teams, who will battle for the last ticket to #KIC2025!

Tune in to the livestream on Nov 1, 7.00PM (GMT+8) on all HOK Esports channels!#shinehok #2025HOK #HonorofKings #HOKEsports… pic.twitter.com/hQSME4qxXG

— HoK Esports (@HoKEsports) October 27, 2025

What’s at Stake

The $1 million USD prize pool is one of the largest in mobile esports this year, with the champion team taking home $300,000. The top three teams will also automatically qualify for the Honor of Kings Challenger Cup 2025, a global competition featuring the top 32 squads and a ¥3.5 million (~$490,000 USD) prize pool.

To celebrate the event, Tencent Games is releasing a special commemorative skin for the assassin hero Jing, alongside a themed MVP skin for the tournament’s standout player.

🔥 Get ready! KIC Esports Skin for Jing will soon be revealed! ⚡#shinehok #2025HOK #HonorOfKings #HOKEsports #KIC2025 pic.twitter.com/z8uXuvSFaL

— HoK Esports (@HoKEsports) October 27, 2025

How to Watch

Fans can catch every match of the Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 live on the official YouTube and Twitch channels, starting November 14th.

Whether you’re supporting your favourite regional team or just tuning in for world-class MOBA action, this year’s championship promises fierce rivalries, thrilling comebacks, and plenty of highlights worth watching.

The post Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 in Philippines: Format, Teams, and What to Expect appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

91,000 Seats Gone in Record Time

The hype around Honor of Kings has hit an all-time high. Tickets for the 2025 King Pro League (KPL) Grand Final sold out in just 12 seconds, setting a new record for Chinese esports. The announcement came straight from Tencent Games, the publisher of Honor of Kings and organiser of the event, confirming what many already suspected, the mobile MOBA remains an unstoppable force in Asia’s gaming scene.

🔥Amazing! Tickets to 2025 KPL Grand Finals Championship Match sold out in just 12 seconds — that’s how you know the hype is real! 😱👑⚡#shinehok #2025HOK #HonorOfKings #HOKEsports pic.twitter.com/BryC1LQShZ

— HoK Esports (@HoKEsports) October 31, 2025

The Grand Final will take place on 8 November 2025 at 5:30 PM (GMT+8) inside the Beijing National Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest. With its massive 91,000-seat capacity, the venue will host one of the largest live esports audiences of the year.

A Stadium-Sized Spectacle

Beyond the championship clash itself, the KPL 2025 Grand Final is shaping up to be a full-scale entertainment event. Chinese music icons Han Hong and Zhou Shen are set to perform the official Honor of Kings 2025 theme song “神驰的属地” (Shén chí de shǔ dì), translated as The Realm of Spirit and Glory.

The fusion of high-stakes esports and live music performances cements KPL’s reputation as one of Asia’s biggest digital entertainment showcases. Fans worldwide can still join the excitement through the official Honor of Kings Esports YouTube channel, along with regional streaming platforms such as Rednote and DouYu.

AG Super Play Returns to the Grand Final

On the competitive side, AG Super Play has already secured its place in the Grand Final after dominating Weibo Gaming with a convincing 4–1 victory in the Upper Bracket Final.

Weibo Gaming still has a shot at redemption, set to face the winner between Dragon Ranger and Wolves in the Lower Bracket Final on 2 November 2025. The victor will earn the last remaining ticket to the championship stage, setting the scene for an epic showdown under the lights of the Bird’s Nest.

AG Super Play, as the reigning champion, will be fighting to defend its crown, but the competition is fierce. Each team in the top four has shown the skill and strategy to pull off a major upset, and with ¥70 million (around $9.8 million) in total prize money on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Tickets Gone in Seconds

Tencent’s official ticketing platforms, including Tencent Sports and Damai.cn, were flooded the moment sales went live. Within 12 seconds, every ticket, from standard admission to VIP, was gone.

On secondary marketplaces, prices reportedly spiked up to five times their original value, showing just how intense the demand is. On Chinese social media, the hashtag #KPLFinalTickets trended nationwide as fans vented their frustration, joking that “it’s harder to get into KPL than a K-Pop concert.”

A Defining Moment for Chinese Esports

The 2025 King Pro League Grand Final is more than just another match, it’s a cultural milestone. Honor of Kings continues to dominate the mobile esports landscape, blending competition, entertainment, and community in a way few games have achieved.

As tens of thousands fill the Bird’s Nest and millions more tune in online, this year’s Grand Final is expected to set new records for live viewership and solidify Honor of Kings as China’s premier esports spectacle.

When the lights go up on 8 November, all eyes will be on Beijing, where history, and a new champion, will be made.

The post Honor of Kings King Pro League 2025 Grand Final Tickets Sell Out in Just 12 Seconds appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Riot Games is finally rolling out VALORANT Mobile, but for now, it’s only landing in China. The tactical 5v5 shooter goes live on 19 August, complete with exclusive rewards for players who pre-registered.

To mark the launch, Riot teamed up with Canadian rapper bbno$, best known for hits like Lalala and Edamame. His new track, Bring It All // In My Zone, soundtracks the official trailer, showing off agents in action and giving fans a taste of what to expect when the game drops.

BRING IT ALL // IN MY ZONE ft BBNO$

China Mobile Launch Music Video // #VALORANT pic.twitter.com/VToDLb9rSw

— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) August 18, 2025

What’s in VALORANT Mobile?

The mobile version sticks closely to the PC experience, but Riot has added some new twists just for handheld players. Two mobile-exclusive maps, Shipyard and Ancient Village, will be available from the start. Players can also look forward to 18 playable agents, 9 maps in total, and 10 different modes at launch.

One of the biggest additions is the long-requested replay system, something fans on PC have been asking for since day one. Riot has confirmed it’ll arrive on desktop later this year, but mobile players get it straight away. There’s also a gifting system baked in, plus unique mobile skins to round things out.

bbno$ Brings the Vibes

This isn’t bbno$’s first time working with Riot. He previously featured on the VALORANT Champions 2023 anthem Ticking Away with Grabbitz.

Introducing the 2023 #VALORANTChampions anthem and music video
“Ticking Away” ft. @grabbitz & @bbnomula ⏲️

Dedicated to the One More’s of life, love, and VALORANT! pic.twitter.com/y1rJNQBhCB

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) July 31, 2023

Earlier this year, he also dropped 1-800 with V-Tuber Ironmouse, proving once again that his music often crosses into gaming and streaming culture.

Big Investment in China’s Esports Scene

Tencent is clearly backing this launch in a big way, committing around 1.5 billion RMB (roughly $200m NZD) to esports events across the country. Given China’s massive mobile gaming market, VALORANT Mobile could quickly cement itself as one of the biggest competitive titles in the region.

What About a Global Launch?

That’s the big question. Riot has been quiet on when VALORANT Mobile might release worldwide. Rumours point to an announcement during VALORANT Champions Paris 2025, possibly tied to the event’s anthem “Last Shot”. Still, nothing’s official, and Riot’s publishing team has already poured cold water on earlier leaks.

For now, it’s all about China, and with over 70 million pre-registrations already locked in, Riot’s gamble on the region looks set to pay off.

As for the rest of us? We’ll just have to wait and see if VALORANT Mobile makes the leap onto global app stores later this year.

The post VALORANT Mobile Launches in China with bbno$ Track appeared first on Shane the Gamer.