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 game licenses for 2025, signals an imminent release. While a precise date remains unannounced, the approval suggests a relatively swift launch.
As its name implies, 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. Previously confined to China and Asia, its immense popularity now extends globally. Honor of Kings: World might just be the gateway for MOBA skeptics to embrace the genre.
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.
This month's approvals, according to the South China Morning Post, exceed even the peak monthly approvals of the previous year. This raises the exciting prospect of a significant influx of Chinese games in 2025. However, the sheer volume also raises the question of potential market saturation and competition. Only time will tell.
