Brandtree

Who owns League of Legends?

League of Legends is owned by Tencent (China, HKEX: 0700), which acquired the brand on 16 December 2015.[1][2] League of Legends was founded in 2009 in the United States and was independent until 2015.

This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.

Key facts

Current owner
Tencent Holdings Limited reported
Owned since
· deal details
Previous owner
Independent (2009–2015)
Owner HQ
🇨🇳 China, Shenzhen
Origin
🇺🇸 United States
Founded
2009
Category
Internet & digitalPlatforms & devicesVideo games
Parent ticker
HKEX: 0700
Last verified
· 2 sources

About League of Legends

League of Legends is free to play and funded by cosmetic sales, and its world championship fills arenas and draws viewing figures comparable to major traditional sports finals. It has been among the most played PC games for over a decade.

Ownership timeline of League of Legends

Owners of League of Legends from 2015 to 2026 Tencent 2015–present Tencent 2015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027
  1. 2015 – present Tencent acquired 16 December 2015 [1][2] reported

Where League of Legends sits in Tencent

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where League of Legends sits in Tencent Tree of 5 brands under Tencent. Tencent League of Legends Clash of Clans Riot Games Supercell WeChat

Open the full Tencent ownership tree →

Other brands owned by Tencent in internet & digital

See the full Tencent brand portfolio (5) →

Deals involving League of Legends

Acquisition closed

Tencent acquires Riot Games and League of Legends

Tencent took full ownership of Riot Games, having bought a majority in 2011. It means League of Legends, among the most played PC games in the world for over a decade, and the Los Angeles studio that makes it have been Chinese-owned since. The price was not disclosed.

Value
Undisclosed
Buyer
Tencent
Seller
Regulatory
None recorded

Latest news about League of Legends

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of League of Legends?

The parent company of League of Legends is Tencent, a publicly listed company headquartered in China.

Is League of Legends American or Chinese?

League of Legends originated in the United States in 2009, but it is owned today by Tencent, which is headquartered in China. So League of Legends is an American-origin brand under Chinese ownership.

When did Tencent buy League of Legends?

Tencent completed its acquisition of League of Legends on 16 December 2015, after announcing the deal on 16 December 2015.

Who owned League of Legends before Tencent?

League of Legends was an independent company from its founding in 2009 until Tencent acquired it in 2015.

Is League of Legends still owned by Tencent?

Yes. As of 8 September 2026, League of Legends is still owned by Tencent. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (2) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] Tencent Holdings Limited Annual Report 2025 — Tencent Holdings Limited, Annual report, published 18 March 2026; retrieved 8 September 2026.
  2. [2] Tencent Holdings Limited - annual report and investments — Tencent Holdings Limited, Annual report; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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