Donald Trump almost banned League of Legends purchases in the US

The global video game market experienced a significant regulatory scare when US government actions threatened to disrupt major gaming platforms.

President Donald Trump had been escalating rhetoric for weeks about prohibiting TikTok operations in American markets, citing cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese ownership. His administration formalized this stance by issuing an executive order compelling ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest the application.

WeChat became collateral damage in this geopolitical confrontation – another Chinese social platform owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd., which maintains substantial investments across the gaming industry. These include controlling interest in Fortnite creator Epic Games and complete ownership of League of Legends developer Riot Games.

The broad language in the presidential directive created uncertainty about League of Legends’ operational status in US markets.

“Any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with Tencent Holdings Ltd., Shenzhen, China, or any subsidiary of that entity, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) under section 1(c) of this order,” the official document specified.

This regulatory framework could have prevented American gamers from transacting with several leading video game publishers due to their Tencent affiliations. However, Los Angeles Times journalist Sam Dean reported subsequent White House guidance limiting the order’s scope exclusively to WeChat activities. This clarification meant Tencent’s extensive gaming partnerships would remain unaffected:

Video game companies owned by Tencent will NOT be affected by this executive order!

White House official confirmed to the LA Times that the EO only blocks transactions related to WeChat

So Riot Games (League of Legends), Epic Games (Fortnite), et al are safe

(pending updates)

— Sam Dean ???? (@SamAugustDean) August 7, 2020

Major video game corporations undoubtedly breathed easier knowing they wouldn’t face the same regulatory challenges confronting TikTok.

Donald Trump’s public campaign against TikTok centered on cybersecurity apprehensions stemming from its Chinese corporate ownership. While ByteDance hasn’t faced specific allegations of malware distribution, data theft, or espionage activities, reports indicate the company previously collaborated with Chinese authorities to monitor and restrict content about human rights issues within China.

Tencent Holdings represents a massive multinational conglomerate with diverse technology and electronics offerings, while simultaneously holding the title of world’s largest gaming company by revenue. Beyond its full control of Riot Games and significant Epic Games stake, Tencent maintains smaller investment positions in publishers including Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, Bluehole, and numerous others.

Similar to ByteDance, Tencent hasn’t been directly implicated in major cybersecurity incidents, though its compliance with Chinese government directives has generated controversy. The Los Angeles Times previously published an investigative report detailing Riot Games’ development of surveillance software for Chinese authorities to track and analyze League of Legends player behavior patterns. This was followed by another contentious situation when Riot warned about disciplinary measures for political discourse, apparently intended to suppress discussion about pro-democracy demonstrations occurring in Hong Kong.

While Riot avoided immediate impact from this executive order, the persistent pattern suggests Tencent’s ownership will likely continue creating challenges for League of Legends’ development team.

For gamers concerned about how corporate ownership affects their experience, our Complete Guide explores similar dynamics in other major franchises.

The near-miss with regulatory action highlights several critical considerations for modern gamers. Understanding corporate ownership structures becomes increasingly important as geopolitical tensions influence digital entertainment.

Data Privacy Awareness: International corporate ownership can create complex data governance situations. While no breaches were alleged in this case, gamers should remain informed about where their gameplay data is stored and processed.

Political Expression Limits: Gaming platforms may restrict certain types of political discussion, particularly when owned by companies operating under different regulatory environments.

Service Continuity Risks: Geopolitical conflicts can unexpectedly threaten access to your favorite games, as demonstrated by the initial broad wording of the executive order.

For those looking to optimize their gameplay while navigating these complex landscapes, our Weapons Unlock guide provides strategies that work regardless of corporate ownership changes.

The gaming industry’s global interconnectedness means political decisions in one country can rapidly affect players worldwide. Staying informed about these relationships helps gamers make better decisions about which platforms and titles to support long-term.

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