Honor of Kings: World Approved in First Batch by Regulator

Honor of Kings: World, the eagerly anticipated open-world RPG spin-off from Tencent's blockbuster MOBA, has officially been approved by Chinese regulators. This approval comes as part of the first batch of games greenlit for release in 2025, signaling a significant step towards its launch. While a precise release date remains under wraps, the approval suggests that fans won't have to wait much longer to dive into this expansive new world.

As the name implies, Honor of Kings: World broadens the universe of the original MOBA, inviting players to explore a vast open world. The game was prominently featured during the showcase for the upcoming iPhone 16, showcasing its stunning graphics and immersive open-world gameplay.

Honor of Kings needs no introduction, having grown to surpass even Riot Games' League of Legends in popularity, despite its initial restriction to China and other Asian markets. Now, with Honor of Kings: World, Tencent aims to captivate not just MOBA enthusiasts but also those who might be skeptical about the genre.

A world awayThe approval of Honor of Kings: World is particularly noteworthy given the recent history of game licensing in China. A few years ago, a licensing freeze significantly impacted the country's game development and publishing industry. The subsequent thaw led to a surge in game releases, and the industry has been closely watching these approvals ever since. This month's approvals, as reported by the South China Morning Post, have exceeded the highest monthly totals from the previous year, hinting at a potential flood of new games from China in 2025. This raises questions about whether some titles might be overshadowed by others. As the situation develops, we'll keep you updated on what to expect from this exciting wave of new releases.