Tencent Games: All the video games that could be banned

When President Donald Trump signed the 2020 executive order aimed at Tencent and ByteDance, the focus landed squarely on WeChat and TikTok rather than video games. Tencent’s investments in major studios still drew attention because any shift in U.S. policy can ripple through titles that millions play daily. The order itself never blocked access to games, yet the same ownership ties resurfaced in 2026 when fresh regulatory chatter raised questions about data security and forced divestment. Four of the five companies originally discussed remain tied to Tencent, and the landscape continues to shift.

League of Legends

Riot Games stays fully owned by Tencent. The studio now fields both League of Legends and Valorant as flagship esports properties. Ownership has not changed since the 2015 acquisition closed. Recent competitive seasons continue to draw large global audiences, and the titles remain central to the company’s revenue mix.

Fortnite

Epic Games still publishes Fortnite, though Tencent’s stake has settled near twenty-eight percent after later funding rounds. The battle-royale format keeps drawing players, and the studio’s Unreal Engine powers events that cross into music and entertainment. Cultural reach persists even as ownership questions surface again in policy circles.

Clash of Clans

Supercell maintains an eighty-four percent Tencent stake while keeping day-to-day control. The mobile strategy game continues to generate steady revenue, and Supercell titles contributed to Tencent’s international growth numbers in 2025. Players still log in to manage villages and compete in seasonal events.

Activision Blizzard

Tencent holds less than five percent of Activision Blizzard. The minority position leaves the company largely outside the current divestment debate. Franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft continue without direct interference tied to the older executive order.

Ubisoft

Tencent’s position in Ubisoft has grown from the original five percent to roughly eleven percent or higher in recent filings. The increase still leaves the French publisher under independent leadership. Core series such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry proceed on their established release schedules.

Recent US Regulatory Scrutiny

March 2026 reports indicated the Trump administration was weighing whether to push Tencent to sell stakes in Epic, Riot, and Supercell. The conversation centers on data security concerns and the reach of Chinese investment into U.S. gaming infrastructure. CFIUS reviews that began years earlier remain active, keeping the same companies in the spotlight.

Tencent’s Broader Gaming Portfolio

Beyond the five names listed above, Tencent holds full ownership of Riot and minority positions in Larian, Remedy, and several other studios. The combined portfolio reaches more than one billion players worldwide. International revenue from these titles grew again in 2025, underscoring how widely the company’s influence now extends.

Impact on Esports and Live Events

League of Legends and Valorant continue to anchor major tournaments under Riot. Fortnite keeps hosting in-game concerts and cross-media events that draw audiences far beyond traditional gaming circles. Global viewership and participation numbers have held steady even as ownership structures face renewed examination.

Operational Independence of Tencent-Owned Studios

Supercell and Riot retain creative and operational autonomy after their acquisitions. Epic’s founder Tim Sweeney continues to direct major decisions at the studio. Similar patterns appear across other Tencent investments, where day-to-day control stays with local teams rather than shifting to headquarters in Shenzhen.

The 2020 order ultimately expired without restricting game access, yet the same ownership links keep returning to policy discussions. Any future action would still need to navigate complex corporate structures and existing international revenue streams. Gamers tracking these developments will watch both regulatory filings and quarterly earnings for the next concrete signals.