BTK’s Bold Entry: Will NA Thrive in Honor of Kings?

When BTK Aims for the Fences

When Blood Thirsty Kings (BTK) announced their entry into Honor of Kings, enthusiasts and skeptics alike reacted with a blend of excitement and caution. After years of watching North American mobile esports trail behind explosive growth in Asia and LATAM, BTK’s move—timed with the global launch of Honor of Kings Plus on June 24, 2025—feels like a genuine swing for the fences. But can NA finally make its mark in a title boasting over 200 million registered players and a decade of mobile MOBA supremacy?

From Vainglory to MLBB: NA Mobile Esports Evolves

North America’s mobile esports story is one of ambition battling against infrastructure gaps. In 2014, Vainglory pioneered cross-platform play and hosted one of the first mobile esports circuits, sparking local communities. By 2019, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) elevated the scene with its M2 World Championship, drawing millions of viewers worldwide. BTK itself cemented a reputation with deep runs in MLBB tournaments—nearly toppling established Asian powerhouses—yet inconsistent funding and a fragmented tournament scene stalled sustained success, especially as LATAM surged ahead globally.

BTK Enters the Honor of Kings Arena

With the June 24 release of Honor of Kings Plus, BTK became the first prominent NA organization to field a squad on the game’s revamped global servers. Led by veteran captain MobaZane and bolstered by a mix of seasoned pros and rising stars, BTK’s early scrims have flashed moments of brilliance. Still, they face pro teams backed by purpose-built training facilities, advanced analytics teams, and rigorous 10–12 hour scrim regimens honed over years in China and Southeast Asia.

Bridging the Asian-Western Divide

“The gap between Western and Asian mobile teams isn’t just about hours practiced; it’s a complete ecosystem,” says a regional esports analyst. In established hubs like China, squads live and breathe their craft in centralized bootcamps, supported by data analysts, nutritionists, and language coaches. For BTK and other NA orgs to close this gap, they’ll need to replicate that infrastructure—securing low-latency Asian servers for training, hiring local meta specialists, and building in-house performance departments.

Strategies for Western Success

• Bring on board Honor of Kings coaches with first-hand experience in Asian metas.
• Invest in permanent training facilities or rotating bootcamps near key server regions.
• Leverage data analytics to break down hero matchups, objective control, and gold flow.
• Create English-language broadcasts and community events to grow a dedicated fanbase.

Implications for Fans

• More high-quality, English-language broadcasts of global Honor of Kings events.
• Potential for North American regional qualifiers and LAN finals.
• Broader pathways for aspiring pros as orgs scout local talent.
• A chance to rally behind Western stars on one of mobile gaming’s grandest stages.

Key Takeaways

• BTK’s entry underscores Honor of Kings’ serious bid to break into Western markets.
• North America’s historic lag stems from differences in ecosystem, funding, and infrastructure.
• Long-term success hinges on sustained organizational investment and grassroots support.
• The coming international qualifiers will reveal if NA can compete—or remains on the sidelines.

Game at a Glance

Title: Honor of Kings
Developer: TiMi Studio Group
Publisher: Tencent / Level Infinite
Genre: Mobile MOBA
Platforms: iOS, Android
Registered Players: 200M+
New Western Org: Blood Thirsty Kings (BTK)