China Approves Tencent’s Honor of Kings: World and NetEase’s Frostpunk in First 2025 Game Licenses
China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) has issued the first batch of game licenses for 2025, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the country's gaming industry. The approval list includes 123 domestic titles and 13 imported games. Among the most notable domestic approvals is Tencent’s highly anticipated open-world role-playing game, Honor of Kings: World, which expands on the popular Honor of Kings franchise. In the imported category, NetEase secured a license for Frostpunk: Beyond the Ice, a mobile adaptation of the successful post-apocalyptic city-building survival game originally developed by Polish studio 11 bit studios. The original PC version launched in 2018, with the global mobile release occurring in late 2024. This regulatory green light allows these major tech giants to proceed with commercial launches in the Chinese market, reflecting the ongoing normalization of game approvals after previous periods of stricter scrutiny. The announcement highlights the continued dominance of Tencent and NetEase in securing high-profile intellectual properties and navigating China's complex publishing landscape.
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China Approves Tencent’s Honor of Kings: World and NetEase’s Frostpunk in First 2025 Game Licenses
China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) has issued the first batch of game licenses for 2025, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the country's gaming industry. The approval list includes 123 domestic titles and 13 imported games. Among the most notable domestic approvals is Tencent’s highly anticipated open-world role-playing game, Honor of Kings: World, which expands on the popular Honor of Kings franchise. In the imported category, NetEase secured a license for Frostpunk: Beyond the Ice, a mobile adaptation of the successful post-apocalyptic city-building survival game originally developed by Polish studio 11 bit studios. The original PC version launched in 2018, with the global mobile release occurring in late 2024. This regulatory green light allows these major tech giants to proceed with commercial launches in the Chinese market, reflecting the ongoing normalization of game approvals after previous periods of stricter scrutiny. The announcement highlights the continued dominance of Tencent and NetEase in securing high-profile intellectual properties and navigating China's complex publishing landscape.
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