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 game licenses for 2025, signals an imminent release.

While a precise release date remains unconfirmed, the regulatory green light suggests a relatively swift launch. 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. Initially limited to China and Asia, its popularity has exploded. Honor of Kings: World might serve as the perfect entry point for MOBA skeptics.

A Significant Milestone

The approval is significant, considering the previous gaming licensing freeze in China. This freeze significantly hampered the country's game development and publishing sector before a recent surge of approvals. The current wave of approvals, according to the South China Morning Post, exceeds even the highest monthly totals from the previous year.

This influx of approvals raises the question: will 2025 witness a flood of Chinese game releases, potentially leading to some titles being overshadowed? Only time will tell. We'll continue to monitor developments and provide updates as they become available.