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Mobile MOBA game Honor of Kings might not be historically huge in the UK and Europe, but publisher Level Infinite is looking to change that.
Having first launched in China in 2015, the title was released globally this summer (June 20th 2024) and has more than 200m registered users worldwide.
The game’s esports scene is also becoming more diverse. The recent Honor of Kings Championship 2024 had a mix of European talent taking part, including players from France, Italy, Germany and the UK.
Shi Ting Huang, aka Winter, was the sole UK player in the tournament. She’s a part of Team Vitality’s Honor of King’s team, who are the first and only organisation in the tournament to field a mixed gender roster.
Winter joined Vitality as the team’s roamer/support player in September 2024, just some six months after she started playing the game.
“I started playing Honor of Kings in March 2024 because all my close friends began playing it, so I joined them,” Winter told Esports News UK.
“At first, I was scared and worried [about being a part of a mixed roster] because I didn’t know what the future would hold for this decision. However, my coach and manager encouraged me and provided incredible support.
“I wanted to prove to other teams and the world that, as part of the first organisation in the competition to have a mixed roster, I could perform just as well as—if not better than—some of the male players.
“I believe more and more women will find the inspiration and courage to join the esports scene. I feel like it’s an honour to be the first and obviously there will be more in the future.”
Team Vitality’s roster is: Nighty (top-laner, Italy), Ctboy (jungler, China), hailand (mid-laner, Germany), Shanks (bot-laner, China) and Winter (support/roamer, UK).
Winter is also joined by other women on the team: head coach YaoYao and manager Sya.
“I wanted to prove to other teams and the world that, as part of the first organisation in the competition to have a mixed roster, I could perform just as well as—if not better than—some of the male players.”
Winter, Team Vitality
Under YaoYao’s leadership, the team reached the top eight in the Honor of Kings International Championship 2023, achieving the best result for an overseas team in the game’s history. And Sya has made an impact across the EU and MENA regions.
“I think esports is an industry regardless of your gender,” YaoYao said in the below video. “I chose Winter to be our starter because she is capable of it. She’s patient and willing to communicate with all the players.
“I think it’s very exciting to see more and more ladies interested in this game. As long as they can see [women like] us get on stage and have the courage to try, I think it’s worthwhile.”
Winter is described by Vitality as ‘a dynamic roamer passionate about promoting gender diversity in esports, who, in just her first 100 days as part of the Honor of Kings team, has already made a big splash’.
Vitality also say their participation in the inaugural global tournament highlights their ‘groundbreaking role as they continue to pave the way for women in tier 1 esports’.
On her UK background and UK esports, Winter said: “I moved to the UK from China when I was five years old and grew up in Kent.
“I think the UK should expand its esports campaigns and host more games to grow the scene.”
The team had a tough Honor of Kings Championship 2024 recently, finishing 9th-12th after a win and two losses in Group B. The tournament was won by Malaysian side Black Shrew Esports.
Looking ahead, Winter added: “Our goal is to reach top four in the next season.
“If the world ever gives you a challenge, embrace it and make it fun.”
The comments come after English Premier League football club Wolves reached the 2024 Honor of Kings KPL grand finals.
Mixed gender esports teams and tournaments are also becoming more prevalent. Earlier this year, Riot Games held a €30,000 mixed gender VCT Valorant Spotlight Series EMEA 2024 tournament, whose trophy was lifted by the UK and Spanish esports organisation GiantX.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
