Honor of Kings: World, the eagerly anticipated open-world RPG spin-off of Tencent's blockbuster MOBA, has officially received approval from Chinese regulators. This approval came as part of the first batch of new game releases greenlit for 2025, marking a significant milestone for the game, as all titles in China must pass regulatory checks before they can be launched.
As suggested by its name, Honor of Kings: World promises to expand the beloved Honor of Kings universe into a vast open world. The game was prominently featured during the showcase for the upcoming iPhone 16, showcasing its stunning graphics and expansive gameplay, which are set to captivate players worldwide.
For those already familiar, Honor of Kings needs no introduction. It's one of the globe's premier MOBAs, surpassing even Riot Games' League of Legends in popularity, despite its initial limitation to China and select Asian countries. With Honor of Kings: World on the horizon, even MOBA skeptics might find themselves drawn into this expansive new universe.
**A World Away**
While this approval might not seem groundbreaking at first glance, it's worth noting that China's gaming industry faced a licensing freeze just a year or two ago. This freeze significantly impacted the development and publishing sectors, slowing down the release of new titles. However, the thaw that followed led to a surge of game approvals.
Globally, enthusiasts and industry insiders alike watch these approvals closely, as they provide insights into when we might see these games hit the market. According to the South China Morning Post, this month's approvals have exceeded the highest monthly totals from last year, hinting at a potentially bustling year for Chinese game releases in 2025.
With such a flood of new games on the horizon, there's a possibility that some titles might be overshadowed by others. As we move closer to 2025, stay tuned for more updates on Honor of Kings: World and other exciting releases from China's thriving gaming industry.
