Valorant can now be played in China

Riot Games’ tactical shooter Valorant has officially entered the Chinese gaming market, marking a significant milestone for the title’s global expansion. The game received official clearance from Chinese regulatory authorities in late 2022, ending years of anticipation among Chinese FPS enthusiasts.

The National Press and Publication Administration included Riot’s competitive shooter in their pre-2023 approval batch, though international players should note the localized title appears as Fearless Covenant in official documentation. This rebranding reflects standard localization practices for foreign games entering the Chinese market.

Valorant’s China debut arrives approximately two years following its initial global release, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of China’s game approval framework. Unlike many Western markets where popularity drives availability, China maintains strict content review processes that evaluate games on multiple criteria beyond commercial success.

Understanding China’s regulatory landscape is crucial for comprehending Valorant’s market entry strategy. The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) maintains absolute authority over all game releases, requiring thorough content review and compliance verification before public availability. This process typically examines game content, cultural appropriateness, and compliance with local laws and values.

Global popularity provides no guarantee of approval, as demonstrated by titles like Fortnite remaining unavailable despite massive international player bases. The approval system prioritizes cultural alignment and content safety over commercial potential, creating unique market dynamics for international developers.

For Valorant specifically, the approval represents Riot Games’ successful navigation of complex regulatory requirements while maintaining the game’s core competitive integrity. The two-year gap between global launch and Chinese availability underscores the thoroughness of this evaluation process.

China’s inclusion in Valorant’s competitive landscape represents a seismic shift for the esports ecosystem. As one of the world’s largest and most financially robust esports markets, China brings substantial investment potential and player talent to the global scene.

Organizations like FunPlus Phoenix, renowned for their 2019 League of Legends World Championship victory, previously maintained Valorant rosters in European competitions. Their November 2022 roster dissolution coincided with China’s approval timeline, suggesting strategic repositioning for domestic competition.

Industry analysts project China will field at minimum ten professional teams integrated into Valorant’s competitive structure. The specific integration mechanism—whether through separate regional circuits or direct VCT participation—remains undisclosed by Riot Games. This strategic ambiguity creates both excitement and uncertainty within the global competitive community.

Accessing Valorant’s Chinese servers requires navigation through Tencent’s exclusive distribution platform. While the game launcher is technically downloadable internationally, the interface remains exclusively Chinese with no official language toggle functionality.

Account creation presents the primary barrier for non-resident players. The registration process mandates three essential components: a valid Chinese mobile number, an active QQ account, and WeChat verification. These requirements align with China’s internet real-name policy designed to ensure accountability and security.

Even with successful account creation, international players face significant technical limitations. Network latency typically results in ping rates exceeding 200ms, rendering competitive gameplay practically unfeasible. The combination of language barriers, verification complexity, and performance issues creates substantial obstacles for players outside mainland China.

International players considering Chinese server access should weigh several practical factors. Identity verification requires submission of official documents like passports, creating privacy considerations for some users. The exclusively Chinese interface demands either language proficiency or reliance on translation tools during gameplay and menu navigation.

Performance considerations extend beyond simple ping measurements. The geographical distance between servers and international connections introduces packet loss and inconsistent hit registration that fundamentally undermines competitive integrity.

For players seeking to understand Valorant’s global competitive landscape, our Complete Guide provides comprehensive strategic insights applicable across regional servers. Similarly, weapon proficiency fundamentals covered in our Weapons Unlock guide offer transferable skills despite regional differences.

The complex verification ecosystem—combining phone, QQ, and WeChat—creates a formidable barrier that generally makes Chinese server access impractical for international competitors. The investment in setup and accommodation of limitations rarely justifies the marginal benefits for players outside China.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Valorant can now be played in China Complete guide to accessing Valorant's Chinese servers with practical setup tips and regional insights