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 worldwide. Honor of Kings: World might entice even MOBA skeptics with its captivating open-world experience.
A Significant Milestone
This approval holds significant weight, considering 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 are closely monitoring these approvals, anticipating insights into release timelines. November's approvals, according to the South China Morning Post, exceed even the highest monthly totals from the previous year.
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 rise to the top. We'll continue to monitor developments.
