Honor of Kings: World, Tencent’s highly anticipated open-world action RPG, has officially received its license from China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA). The approval, part of the first batch of 2025 licenses, signals a strong start for the Chinese gaming industry this year. Developed by TiMi Studio Group, the game expands on the globally successful Honor of Kings franchise with stunning graphics, an immersive narrative, and a focus on both mobile and PC platforms.

The licensing milestone comes after significant progress in 2024, when China set a record by approving 1,416 games, including 122 domestic and 13 imported titles in December 2024 alone. This marked the third consecutive month of simultaneous approvals, showcasing a steady recovery in the gaming sector after regulatory challenges. Notably, December’s highlights included NetEase’s Ananta, an open-world urban anime RPG, and Monster Hunter: Outlander from Tencent and Capcom.

Honor of Kings: World, which has been in development since 2020, aims to elevate the Honor of Kings universe with a rich open-world experience. The game was featured during Apple’s iPhone 16 showcase in 2024, where a gameplay demo teased its cutting-edge visuals. While no release date has been confirmed, Tencent has announced that the game’s main storyline is “basically completed,” with more testing scheduled in the coming months.

Image Credit: Tencent & Timi Studios

Image Credit: Tencent & Timi Studios

Image Credit: Tencent & Timi Studios

Image Credit: Tencent & Timi Studios

Image Credit: Tencent & Timi Studios

This latest approval reflects the industry’s growing momentum, with the NPPA approving 123 domestic games and 13 foreign titles in January 2025. Other notable inclusions are Frostpunk: Beyond the Ice, a mobile version of the popular PC strategy game, and JUMP: Assemble, a MOBA featuring beloved anime characters.

As Tencent prepares for Honor of Kings: World’s launch, the title is set to not only captivate fans of the franchise but also introduce new players to the world of Honor of Kings.