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 specific 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 regions. Initially limited to China and Asia, its popularity has exploded. Honor of Kings: World might serve as the perfect entry point for those previously hesitant to explore the MOBA 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 highest monthly totals from the previous year. This raises the exciting prospect of a significant influx of Chinese games in 2025. However, the sheer volume also raises questions about potential competition and market saturation. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out.
