US government blocks League of Legends for players in Iran and Syria Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. US government blocks League of Legends for players in Iran and Syria "Such restrictions are subject to change by the U.S. government." News by Vikki Blake Contributor Updated on 23 Jun 2019 33 comments League of Legends fans in Iran and Syria have been blocked from playing the game as tensions between the two nations and the United States rise. As reported by Dot Esports (thanks, PCGN), since yesterday (22nd June) players have reported receiving a message informing them that the game has been blocked in each respective country following trade sanctions applied by the U.S. government. Developer Riot, which is based in the U.S., seemingly has no choice but to comply. "Due to U.S. laws and regulations, players in your country cannot access League of Legends at this time," the message states, as shared by an Iranian player on the official LoL forums. "Such restrictions are subject to change by the U.S. government, so if and when that happens, we will look forward to having you back on the rift." As you might expect, the block hasn't prevented all players from logging on - VPNs are enabling some to sidestep the ban - but it's thought to be the first time an online video game's availability has been included as a sanction. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 5 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store