Honor of Kings: World, the highly anticipated open-world RPG spin-off of Tencent's popular MOBA, Honor of Kings, has received approval from Chinese regulators. This approval, part of the first batch of 2025 game releases, signals an imminent launch. While a precise release date remains unconfirmed, the regulatory green light suggests a relatively swift market entry.
True to its name, Honor of Kings: World expands the Honor of Kings universe into a fully explorable open world. Its impressive graphics and open-world gameplay were prominently featured during the iPhone 16 showcase.
For those unfamiliar, Honor of Kings is a globally renowned MOBA, surpassing even League of Legends in certain markets. Initially confined to China and Asia, its popularity has exploded. Honor of Kings: World might entice even MOBA skeptics to explore this expansive new title.
A Significant Milestone
This approval is particularly noteworthy given China's previous gaming licensing freeze. This period significantly impacted the country's game development and publishing landscape before a recent surge of approvals. The current wave of approvals, exceeding even last year's peak monthly numbers (as reported by the South China Morning Post), is a significant development.
The sheer volume of approvals suggests a potential flood of Chinese games in 2025. However, the competitive landscape may lead to some titles being overshadowed. Only time will tell which games emerge as frontrunners. We will continue to monitor the situation.