Exciting news for fans of Tencent's blockbuster MOBA, Honor of Kings! The eagerly anticipated spin-off, Honor of Kings: World, has officially been approved by Chinese regulators as part of the first batch of games for 2025. While a precise release date remains under wraps, this approval signals that the game should be hitting the market sooner rather than later.
As its name suggests, Honor of Kings: World takes the beloved universe of the original MOBA and transforms it into a sprawling open-world RPG. The game was prominently featured during the showcase for the upcoming iPhone 16, dazzling audiences with its stunning graphics and expansive gameplay. If you're familiar with Honor of Kings, you'll know it's a global phenomenon that has outshone even Riot Games' League of Legends, despite its initial confinement to China and other Asian markets. For those who might have been skeptical of MOBAs, Honor of Kings: World could be the enticing gateway into this thrilling genre.
A world away—This approval might not seem groundbreaking at first glance, but it's a significant milestone considering the recent history of gaming in China. A few years ago, a licensing freeze halted the progress of the gaming industry there, causing a bottleneck in game releases. The subsequent thaw led to a surge of new titles hitting the market. This month's wave of approvals, as reported by the South China Morning Post, has even surpassed the peak monthly approvals of the previous year.
With this latest development, the gaming community worldwide is keenly watching to see what 2025 will bring from China's gaming industry. Will we witness an influx of new games, and could some be overshadowed by others? Only time will tell, so stay tuned for more updates on Honor of Kings: World and other exciting releases.
