Riot Games and Tencent have decided to make a huge push for VALORANT Mobile with a $200 million investment in support of mobile esports in the region. The companies revealed the plan during the 2025 ChinaJoy Gaming Festival, just days before the game’s official launch in China on Tuesday, August 19.

Riot eyes to use the funds to build a full esports ecosystem for the game. This includes competitive leagues, tournaments, and esports teams for said game over the next three years. Riot also shared that the goal is to make VALORANT Mobile on par with PC-level competition.

The game has already built massive hype, with over 60 million pre-registrations ahead of its release in China. At launch, users get to access 18 agents, seven maps, and 10 game modes. Riot also confirmed the addition of strong anti-cheat systems to ensure fair play.

VALORANT Mobile’s release marks one of Riot’s biggest moves in the mobile gaming market.

Check out more esports news here

The US has blacklisted two big Chinese companies, Tencent and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) as they are accused of having links to the Chinese military. This move is raising concerns in the gaming and electric vehicle (EV) industries. 

Tencent, the world’s largest video game publisher, and CATL, a leading EV battery supplier with clients such as Tesla, both denied the allegations and labeled the US action a mistake. Tencent holds significant stakes in major gaming firms, including Epic Games and Activision Blizzard.

After the news, Tencent's shares dropped almost 8% in New York. CATL also saw its stock drop. The company is also important in the EV supply chain and works with car makers like Volkswagen and Stellantis. The blacklist doesn’t put direct restrictions on these companies but makes American firms less likely to work with them. 

This adds uncertainty in industries already facing global tensions. While experts say the effects won’t be big right away, putting CATL on the list is seen as a setback for China’s growth in the EV battery market. It also makes things harder for the global car supply chain. Both companies are working to clear up the misunderstanding and say they focus on non-military areas. 

Get the latest esports news here