Honor of Kings is already one of the biggest and most successful gaming franchises in the world, but Honor of Kings: World takes the established universe in a very different direction. Moving beyond the MOBA formula that made the franchise famous, this new entry transforms its characters, world, and Eastern fantasy influences into a large-scale open-world RPG. Already released in China and now preparing to reach western audiences, Honor of Kings: World represents an ambitious expansion of the franchise. After meeting with the team during Gamescom, we spoke with Enbo Zhang, Overseas Publishing Producer for the Honor of Kings titles, about bringing the universe into a new genre, welcoming newcomers, lessons from the Chinese release, and what players can expect from its global debut.
For some players, Honor of Kings: World will be their first introduction to this universe. How are you making the opening accessible to newcomers?
Honor of Kings: World is designed to stand on its own. New players do not need prior knowledge of Honor of Kings to follow the story or enjoy the adventure. The main narrative offers a clear introduction, while exploration and environmental storytelling let players discover its characters and cultures at their own pace. Longtime fans may recognize familiar heroes, but we want first-time players to feel just as welcome.
What were the biggest challenges in expanding the world of Honor of Kings from a MOBA into a fully explorable 3D open world?
One of the biggest challenges was preserving what makes Honor of Kings recognizable while creating a very different kind of experience. In a MOBA, players encounter its heroes and world through matches; here, they can explore that world firsthand. That meant developing its cultures, environments and untold stories beyond the familiar characters, while making exploration, combat and narrative feel like parts of the same adventure. Throughout that process, we wanted the worldbuilding and artistic style to remain true to the identity of Honor of Kings.
How are you blending Eastern fantasy influences with futuristic and mechanical elements to create the game’s visual identity?
Eastern fantasy is central to the identity of Honor of Kings: World. Rather than directly recreating history or mythology, we draw inspiration from traditional culture, art and philosophy to build an original fantasy world. As players explore its different regions and encounter its characters, we want them to recognize the artistic identity of Honor of Kings while discovering more of its world and stories.
What have been the biggest lessons from player feedback following the release in China, and how are they shaping the global version?
Player feedback remains an important part of how we refine Honor of Kings: World. The experience gained from operating the game in China helps us understand what players respond to and where the experience can improve. We also recognize that markets differ, so those learnings will inform how we approach the overseas version rather than being applied without adjustment. We’ll share more about specific plans when they are ready.
How are you approaching performance optimization and graphical scaling across the different platforms planned for the global release?
Creating a large open world means considering how exploration, combat and visual presentation work together in play. Our gameplay, art and technical teams continue to refine that experience, with player feedback informing where we can improve. We know performance matters across different devices, but we have not announced the full global platform lineup or platform-specific graphics and performance details. We’ll share those details once they’re confirmed.
Is there one moment, location, or feature you’re especially excited for new players around the world to experience?
I’m especially excited for new players to discover Flow. It connects the world and its story with the way players fight and explore. As they experiment with different Flow Styles, they can develop an approach that feels like their own. I can’t wait for players around the world to have that moment when they realize this is their adventure to shape.