The politics of the real world have impeded the possible solace or distraction of a video game. It appears that League of Legends players who reside in either Iran or Syria are being blocked from accessing their MOBA of choice thanks to embargo laws imposed by the United States.
An Iranian player has posted a message and a related image on the game’s official forums alerting folks to the issue, with other Iranian players reporting seeing a similar message in the thread’s replies. The image itself explains that “US laws and regulations” have forced Riot to block the game in the country. Reportedly, players in Syria are also seeing the same message due to the country’s close allegiance to Iran, though no Syrian players has officially chimed in.
The United States announced its intentions to impose additional sanctions on Iran starting today as tensions between the two nations escalate. Riot is yet to officially issue a statement, and players in the region are suggested to attempt playing the game with VPNs in the meantime.