Honor of Kings: World, the eagerly anticipated open-world RPG spin-off from Tencent's blockbuster MOBA, has officially received approval from Chinese regulators. This approval came as part of the first batch of games greenlit for release in 2025, marking a significant step forward for the title. While a specific release date remains under wraps, this development suggests that fans won't have to wait much longer to dive into this expansive new world.
As the name suggests, Honor of Kings: World takes the beloved universe of Honor of Kings and broadens it into a vast, explorable open world. The game was prominently featured during the showcase for the upcoming iPhone 16, highlighting its stunning graphics and immersive open-world gameplay.
For those unfamiliar, Honor of Kings needs little introduction. It's one of the world's most popular MOBAs, surpassing even Riot Games' League of Legends in terms of player base, despite being initially limited to China and other Asian countries. With Honor of Kings: World, Tencent aims to draw in not only existing fans but also those who may have been skeptical of MOBAs, offering a fresh take on the genre.
A World AwayThis approval is more significant than it might appear at first glance. China's gaming industry faced a licensing freeze a couple of years ago, which had a profound impact on game development and publishing. The subsequent thaw led to a surge in game releases, and the industry has been closely watching these approvals ever since. They provide a glimpse into when we can expect new titles to hit the market. According to the South China Morning Post, this month's approvals have exceeded the highest monthly totals from last year.
The question now is whether 2025 will see an overwhelming influx of games from China. Will some titles be overshadowed by others? Only time will tell, so stay tuned for more updates as we approach the release of Honor of Kings: World and other exciting new games.
