Tencent Opens 2027 Honor of Kings Partner Applications

Tencent and TiMi Studio Group have opened applications for the 2027 Honor of Kings Global Esports Team Partner Program. Professional esports organisations in Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines can apply for partner status in their regional leagues.

Applications close on Dec. 4, 2026. Tencent and TiMi plan to announce the selected teams in January 2027, before the new competitive season begins.

The program will place accepted organisations in one of three tiers: Flagship, Core or Rising. Funding, operational support and contractual requirements will vary by tier and region.

The companies will assess applicants on competitive performance, organisational stability, brand reach, operational infrastructure and their long-term commitment to Honor of Kings esports.

Selected teams will receive direct entry to their regional leagues, operational subsidies, content production support and backing for community events. They can also qualify for financial incentives linked to performance targets and the recruitment of international players or coaching staff. Tencent and TiMi have not disclosed the payment amounts.

Partner organisations will be eligible for commercial opportunities, including co-branded in-game content such as team Voice Stickers. They will also receive priority consideration for possible collaborations involving Tencent and TiMi media projects.

The teams will be required to maintain professional operations, compete in their leagues, produce content and engage with their communities. Funding and incentives will depend on agreed requirements and each organisation’s delivery.

The program expands Tencent’s structured esports partnership model outside China. Honor of Kings’ domestic competition, the King Pro League, recorded more than 62,000 attendees at the 2025 KPL Grand Finals at Beijing’s National Stadium, according to Guinness World Records.

Tencent has also expanded the game into international markets, including India. Teams from India received direct qualification places for the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup. The 2027 partner program covers four countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

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Reviewed and fact-checked by Alex Panasenko on November 5.