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Overview

Honor of Kings: World has its roots in the Honor of Kings franchise, a $13 billion IP and the world's most-played mobile MOBA. The decision to expand the IP into an open-world action RPG represented a major strategic move by TiMi Studio Group and Tencent Games.

IP Origins

Honor of Kings (Wang Zhe Rong Yao) launched in 2015 and rapidly became China's most popular mobile game. With over 260 million monthly active users, it established a rich universe of characters drawn from Chinese history, mythology, and folklore. The success of the MOBA created demand for a deeper narrative experience within the IP's world.

Gamescom 2025 Reveal

Honor of Kings: World made its global debut at Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live. The reveal included a cinematic trailer and a playable demo featuring a boss battle against the Crimson Beast. The demo showcased the game's Unreal Engine 5 visuals, combo-based combat system, and cooperative multiplayer features. Press coverage compared the game favorably to Monster Hunter and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

January 2026: Mobile Closed Beta

In January 2026, the first mobile closed beta recruitment opened in China (January 16–20 sign-ups) for Android and iOS. This test focused on mobile performance optimization and core gameplay loop validation.

Spring 2026: China Launch

The game's China launch for PC and mobile is confirmed for Spring 2026. This marks the first large-scale public release, with a global launch expected to follow. The game will be available on Steam and Epic Games Store for PC, with Nintendo Switch support also listed on the official TiMi Studios page.

Global Release

While no specific global release date has been confirmed, Level Infinite (Tencent's global gaming brand) has indicated a worldwide launch is planned. The Gamescom 2025 appearance and English-language marketing suggest a global release within the same year as the China launch.