Riot Games Accused of Censoring “Hong Kong” During League of Legends World Championship
Riot Games has come under fire for allegedly censoring the use of the phrase “Hong Kong” during the League of Legends World Championship play-in stage. A Reddit post brought attention to moments where casters corrected themselves and replaced “Hong Kong” with “HKA” while discussing the team Hong Kong Attitude. Several instances of this can be found in videos analyzing play-in final results and during conversations between casters. These actions have sparked speculation that Riot is intentionally avoiding the use of “Hong Kong.”
Controversy Surrounding Censorship
Casters have been heard saying “Hong Kong” without any changes during other play-in streams, but the repeated instances of self-correction have raised suspicions. It is possible that Riot may have instructed the casters to refrain from saying “Hong Kong.” In addition, viewers noticed a significant delay during the Hong Kong Attitude vs. Isurus Gaming series. The interview with HKA after their win did not air until much later in the stream, leading to speculation about potential censorship to prevent HKA from speaking about the Hong Kong protests.
Possible Reasons for Censorship
Riot Games, being owned by Chinese company Tencent, may have reasons to censor broadcasts. With a large player and revenue base in China, Riot may want to avoid any controversy that could arise from discussions about Hong Kong. This precautionary censorship could be a response to recent incidents in the gaming industry, such as Blizzard’s ban on a Hearthstone player who expressed support for Hong Kong, which resulted in backlash.
Tensions Between American Entertainment Companies and China
It is worth noting that the tension between American entertainment companies and China extends beyond gaming. Tencent has already taken action against the NBA for supporting Hong Kong, suspending live streaming of two preseason games in China. Similar action against Riot Games could have serious consequences for the company.
Update Oct. 9 8:30pm CT: Riot Games has addressed the allegations of censorship, stating that they are not telling anyone to avoid saying “Hong Kong.” However, they prefer the team to be referred to by its full name. The company acknowledges some internal confusion and is working to clarify the situation.
Riot Games, League of Legends World Championship, Hong Kong, censorship, controversy, casters, speculation, Chinese company Tencent, player base, revenue, Hearthstone, Blizzard, NBA, tensions, American entertainment companies, China.