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 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 showcase.

For those unfamiliar, Honor of Kings is a globally renowned MOBA, surpassing even League of Legends in certain regions. Previously limited to China and Asia, its immense popularity now extends globally. Honor of Kings: World might entice even MOBA skeptics to explore this expansive new title.

A Significant Milestone

This approval holds significant weight, considering China's previous gaming licensing freeze. This period significantly hampered the nation's game development and publishing sector before a recent surge of approvals. Global interest in these approvals is high, offering insights into potential release timelines. This month's approvals, according to the South China Morning Post, exceed even the highest monthly totals from the previous year.

The prospect of a significant influx of Chinese games in 2025 raises questions about potential market saturation and competition. Only time will tell which titles emerge as frontrunners. We'll continue to monitor developments.