Honor of Kings: World, the eagerly anticipated open-world RPG spin-off of Tencent's immensely popular MOBA, has officially received approval from Chinese regulators. This milestone comes as part of the first batch of games greenlit for release in 2025, a significant step forward since all games in China must undergo regulatory approval before hitting the market.
As the name suggests, Honor of Kings: World broadens the horizons of the Honor of Kings universe, allowing players to delve into an expansive open world. The game was prominently featured in the showcase for the upcoming iPhone 16, highlighting its stunning graphics and immersive open-world gameplay.
Given the colossal success of Honor of Kings, which has grown to surpass even Riot Games' League of Legends in popularity despite being initially limited to China and other Asian markets, the announcement of Honor of Kings: World is a major event. This spin-off could be the perfect entry point for those yet to be convinced by the MOBA genre, offering a fresh and expansive take on the beloved universe.
A World Away
While this approval might not seem like headline news at first glance, it's important to consider the context. Not long ago, China's gaming industry faced a licensing 'freeze' that halted the release of new games, causing a significant slowdown in the development and publishing sectors. The subsequent thaw led to a rush of new releases, and now, with this month's wave of approvals exceeding last year's peak, the industry is buzzing with anticipation.
Globally, these approvals are closely watched as they provide a glimpse into when we might expect new releases to become available on various platforms. According to the South China Morning Post, this surge in approvals could herald a flood of new games from China in 2025. As the market becomes increasingly saturated, some titles might struggle to stand out. We'll need to keep an eye on developments to see how this unfolds.
While we don't have a solid release date for Honor of Kings: World yet, this regulatory approval indicates that its launch is on the horizon. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach what promises to be an exciting year for gaming.
