League of Legends: Wild Rift Approved in China

Wild Rift in China will soon be a reality with Riot Games receiving approval from China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) to release Wild Rift in the country alongside other popular console and mobile games like Diablo Immortal, Pokemon Quest, and Super Mario Party. In August 2020, Riot Games successfully registered their latest mobile MOBA title, League of Legends: Wild Rift’s trademark in China with the National Intellectual Property Administration and has recently got official approval for the launch of Wild Rift in China. Chinese fans will soon be able to play one of the most popular mobile MOBA title, League of Legends: Wild Rift.

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Wild Rift in China Coming Soon

China usually has very strict regulations when it comes to video games. Usually, the waiting period for receiving a game approval from the Chinese government is long and likely to fail the process. Luckily, Riot Games managed to get support swiftly and with fewer issues. 

Being approved in China could prove crucial in developing Wild Rift’s esports ecosystem in the region as Riot Games cannot monetize the game without the government’s approval. This serves as a positive signal for Chinese esports organizations to start building their Wild Rift esports teams. 

A few hours after NAPPA approved the release of Wild Rift in China, the Chinese organization Royal Never Give-Up (RNG) posted an announcement on Weibo and announced that they would be recruiting players for their Wild Rift roster. 

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Why was Wild Rift in China Delayed?

Over the years, China has been very cautious about the type of video games releasing in their country. In 2018, the Chinese government established a gaming regulator, the State Administration of Press and Publication (SAPP), to filter out and approve new online games making their way into their country. 

The Chinese government established this regulatory board in response to serious concerns about the increasing problem of nearsightedness among children in their country. This resulted in a much more restricted video game playing time and an age-restriction system for video games.

These strict rules and regulations are one of the key factors as to why Wild Rift in China was delayed. The game’s seemingly swift approval was also noticed by other esports celebrities like Gai "Alan" Yandahan, a popular Chinese Overwatch Shoutcaster. 

Things are finally heading to the bright side with Wild Rift’s approval in China. However, Riot Games has yet to announce their next move after this great milestone. Chinese fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for the upcoming announcement of Wild Rift’s release in China.