Riot Games is not the only developer making strides in the MMORPG market; Tencent is expanding its successful Honor of Kings franchise into this genre. The game has generated impressive revenue, particularly in China and Europe. Honor of Kings: World promises a fresh experience with gameplay reminiscent of Monster Hunter and an artistic style similar to Genshin Impact. While details on monetization remain unclear, anticipation is high for its potential release, possibly ahead of Riot’s upcoming MMO.
Riot Games isn’t the only developer making waves in the MMORPG space with a League of Legends-inspired title. Another major player in the MOBA genre, particularly popular in Asia, is also gearing up for an exciting transformation that promises to captivate fans.
Introducing Honor of Kings: World – An MMORPG from Tencent’s Beloved MOBA
While the West primarily recognizes League of Legends and DotA 2, Asia boasts other titans like Honor of Kings, a franchise owned by Tencent. This free-to-play game has proven to be a financial powerhouse, reportedly generating an astonishing 4 billion euros in China alone and nearly 180 million euros in Europe within just four years of its launch, according to SensorTower.
This remarkable success, though somewhat under the radar in Europe, has motivated Tencent to expand the franchise into the MMORPG realm, akin to Riot Games’ upcoming MMO inspired by League of Legends, which is still in development.
Fans will soon have the opportunity to explore Honor of Kings: World, a spin-off of the original MOBA. Some fortunate media representatives got an early look at the game during the 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC), including Lincoln Carpenter from PCGamer, who expressed positive surprise about the title.
Combat Inspired by Monster Hunter: A New Gameplay Experience
Honor of Kings: World showcases an artistic style reminiscent of Genshin Impact, but its combat mechanics draw significant influence from Monster Hunter, as noted by Carpenter. Players will enjoy the ability to fluidly switch between various combat styles, each inspired by the existing heroes from the MOBA.
- Players can unleash a series of combos by chaining heavy attacks with special skills.
- The game features immersive animations that give weight to various weapons, including long swords, bows, and daggers, with fixed attack patterns that cannot be interrupted at will.
While Carpenter was impressed by this early look, he remains cautious about the game’s future monetization strategy, which Tencent has yet to disclose. Although Honor of Kings: World currently lacks a specific release date, it is anticipated that it may launch ahead of Riot Games’ MMO.
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