Honor of Kings spin-off Honor of Kings: World part of first batch of releases approved by regulator

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 launch showcase.

Honor of Kings needs little introduction; it's a globally dominant MOBA, surpassing even League of Legends in certain regions despite its initial confinement to China and Asia. For those previously hesitant about MOBAs, Honor of Kings: World might offer a compelling entry point.

A Significant Milestone

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 the recent surge of approvals. The current wave of approvals, exceeding even last year's peak monthly numbers (as reported by the South China Morning Post), is a significant development.

The sheer volume of approved games suggests a potential flood of Chinese game releases in 2025. The coming months will reveal whether this leads to intense competition or some titles being overshadowed. We'll be watching closely.