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. While initially limited to China and Asia, its popularity exploded. Honor of Kings: World might entice even MOBA skeptics to explore this expansive universe.
A significant development The approval is particularly noteworthy given China's previous gaming licensing freeze. This period significantly hampered the nation's game development and publishing sector before a recent surge of approvals.
Global observers closely monitor these approvals, as they provide insights into potential release timelines. According to the South China Morning Post, this month's approvals exceed even the peak monthly approvals of the previous year.
The sheer volume of approved games suggests a potential flood of Chinese game releases in 2025. However, the resulting market competition remains to be seen. We will continue to monitor the situation for updates.
