[Honor of Kings] 'Honor World' Plagiarism Controversy: Official Apology Sparks Community Backlash

Recently, 'Honor World' found itself at the center of yet another plagiarism scandal. In response to the backlash, the developer issued an official statement attributing the incident to a 'misuse' of assets.

However, the apology failed to calm the community. Players mocked the statement, noting that the developer is a 'habitual offender' (惯犯). Many commenters argued that these repeated, superficial apologies are insincere, essentially comparing them to empty gestures.

Veteran observers of Chinese gaming forums suggested this might be a tactic of 'black-red marketing' (using controversy to generate buzz). Some predicted the company would soon attempt 'kai guai' (开拐)—a term for using comparisons to other games to deflect blame and improve their own reputation. Tensions peaked when anonymous posters attempted to shift the narrative, only to be quickly called out and 'kicked out' by the vigilant community.