Honor of Kings: World, the highly anticipated open-world RPG spin-off of Tencent's blockbuster MOBA, has officially received the green light from Chinese regulators. This approval came as part of the first batch of new releases greenlit for 2025, signaling that all games in China must pass regulatory checks before they hit the market.
As the name suggests, Honor of Kings: World takes the beloved universe of Honor of Kings and expands 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 familiar with the gaming landscape, Honor of Kings needs no introduction. It's not just one of the world's biggest MOBAs; it has outgrown even Riot Games' iconic League of Legends, despite being initially limited to China and other Asian countries. Now, with Honor of Kings: World on the horizon, it might just be the perfect entry point for MOBA skeptics to dive into this expansive universe.
A World Away - While this approval might not seem groundbreaking at first glance, it's significant in the context of China's gaming industry. A few years ago, a licensing freeze had halted the momentum of China's enormous game development and publishing sectors. The subsequent thaw led to a flood of new releases. These regulatory approvals are closely watched globally, as they provide insights into potential release timelines. Notably, this month's approvals have exceeded the highest monthly totals from last year, according to the South China Morning Post.
With this surge in approvals, 2025 could see a deluge of new games from China. Will some titles be overshadowed by others in this crowded market? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the release of Honor of Kings: World and other exciting new titles.
