Honor of Kings sets new record with 139 million daily active users

The company behind "Honor of Kings" has released the mobile game's latest data, revealing that its Chinese server Daily Active Users (DAU) have surpassed 139 million, while global Monthly Active Users (MAU) have exceeded 260 million. This not only breaks the game's previous record of 100 million DAU announced in 2024 but also sets a new global record for the highest MAU ever recorded by a game product.

The announcement was made as part of the game's 10th-anniversary celebrations, during which the company also revealed updates on two new titles. "Honor of Kings: World" is scheduled to launch in spring 2026, and "Honor of Kings: Wanxiang Chess" will start large-scale testing this December. 

The success of "Honor of Kings" is emblematic of a broader trend of Chinese games gaining international recognition. Titles such as "Genshin Impact," Black Myth: Wukong," "Whiteout Survival" and "Clash of Kings" have also been successful in global markets.

Chinese companies now hold 38 of the top 100 spots among global mobile game publishers, according to a research report on the globalization of China's game industry released by Academy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in July 2025. Accompanying this export success is a consistent expansion in overseas investments by Chinese gaming firms.

Globalization of Chinese games

The globalization of Chinese games can be traced back to the 1990s, though the early model differed significantly from today's approach. Initially, overseas distribution was primarily based on a one-time copyright buyout system, where international publishers paid a lump sum to acquire full rights, handling all subsequent distribution and sales – cutting Chinese developers off from future revenue streams.

From 2012 to 2014, web games led China's gaming exports. By 2013, mobile games began to gain momentum. As China's domestic mobile gaming market matured around 2015, companies increasingly turned their focus to exporting mobile titles, marking the start of a high-growth phase for Chinese games abroad. 

Between 2018 and 2024, overseas revenue from Chinese-developed games surged from $9.59 billion to $18.56 billion, with the overseas revenue share increasing from 27.8 percent to 33.6 percent, according to data from the research report released in July. 

After years of evolution, the Chinese gaming industry's globalization strategy has now entered a new stage focused on deep localization in overseas markets. Leading companies such as Tencent Games have begun establishing localized R&D structures and building independent international brands – signaling a structural shift in how Chinese games reach the world.