US video game developer Riot Games, creator of League of Legends, retains bragging rights to the most popular PC game in China nearly a decade and a half after its launch.
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First introduced in 2009 and brought to the mainland in 2011, the multiplayer online battle game has been around longer than many of those who play it – a remarkable feat in an industry known for its rapid shifts.
The secret to the game’s longevity may lie in the sustained appeal of the League of Legends esports scene, as shown by the world championship tournament held in the country over the past few weeks.
“Once an esports game becomes a global hit, its lifespan is typically measured in decades,” said Zhang Shule, an analyst with CBJ Think Tank.
China hosted the League of Legends World Championship, the esports industry’s biggest tournament for a single title, for the third time this year, after 2017 and 2020.
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On the final match day on November 9, tens of thousands of fans flocked to the venue in Chengdu, in China’s southwestern Sichuan province. There they watched T1, a South Korean team, close out the five-match championship series against KT Rolster, also from South Korea, to claim its third straight title and sixth overall – a record in the event’s history.