By Sagar V. Mankar 
China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) has kickstarted 2025 by approving 136 video games, including 123 domestic titles and 13 from foreign developers. This marks the largest single batch of licenses issued in recent years, indicating a positive trend for the country’s gaming industry.
Honor of Kings: World
Among the most anticipated titles is Tencent’s “Honor of Kings: World,” an open-world action RPG developed by TiMi Studio Group. This game is a spin-off of the world’s highest-grossing mobile game, aiming to introduce global audiences to its immersive universe.
Tencent’s development team has been working on the project since 2020, with the first trailer released in 2021. The game has received approval for both mobile and PC platforms.
The game was also showcased during Apple’s iPhone 16 event in 2024, generating significant excitement among gamers and industry analysts.
Other International Games Gets Approval
- Frostpunk: Beyond the Ice (mobile version of the strategy game)
- Spiritfarer (mobile adaptation)
- Fortress Saga: AFK RPG
- Ultraman Card Game
- JUMP: Assemble (a 5v5 MOBA featuring manga characters from Naruto, Dragon Ball, One Piece, and more)
Market Recovery and Regulatory Context
Getting a license to release a title in China is a tough task for publishers. As we know, publishers (both local and international) need to get approval from the government authority, the NPPA, which sometimes takes months or even years. In 2021, things got even worse when China froze new game approvals for eight consecutive months. However, recent years have shown a steady recovery, with Beijing progressively loosening restrictions.
In 2024, the NPPA licensed 1,416 video games, including 110 foreign titles. This represents a substantial 31.7% increase from 2023 and nearly 2.8 times the number of titles approved in 2022.
The success of Black Myth: Wukong is said to be one of the biggest reasons for this shift as it boosted the Chinese entertainment industry.
Tencent’s Performance and Potential
Tencent, a gaming industry giant, has seen remarkable growth. The company reported a 47% profit increase in the third quarter of 2024, driven by its video gaming segment. Domestic market growth stood at 14%, with overseas markets rising by 9%.
Sources: Sensor Tower Analytics