Exciting news for fans of Tencent's blockbuster MOBA, Honor of Kings: The much-anticipated spin-off, Honor of Kings: World, has officially received the green light from Chinese regulators. This approval came as part of the first batch of games greenlit for release in 2025, signaling that the wait for this open-world RPG might soon be over.
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 expansive gameplay.
For those unfamiliar, Honor of Kings needs no introduction. It's one of the world's most popular MOBAs, surpassing even Riot Games' League of Legends in terms of player base, despite being initially limited to China and other Asian countries. Honor of Kings: World could be the perfect entry point for those who have yet to dive into the MOBA genre.
While this approval might not seem groundbreaking at first glance, it's significant given the recent history of gaming regulations in China. A licensing freeze a couple of years ago had a major impact on the industry, halting the release of new games. The subsequent thaw led to a surge in approvals, and this month's batch is reportedly the largest since last year, according to the South China Morning Post.
With this wave of approvals, the global gaming community is keenly watching to see when these new titles will hit the market. Could 2025 see an influx of games from China, potentially overshadowing some releases? Only time will tell, so stay tuned for more updates.