KR — ZDNet Korea

Lionheart Studio's 'Odin: Valhalla Rising' Receives Chinese Foreign Game Approval

SoftwareOctober 30, 20261 min read

Lionheart Studio's MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising has received a foreign game license (waegi panho) to launch in China. The game will be called Odin: Shenban there and will be run by ZLONGAME.

What happened

Lionheart Studio said that its online game Odin: Valhalla Rising received the license it needs to run in China. This type of license lets a foreign game operate in the Chinese market. The Chinese name will be 'Odin: Shenban'. ZLONGAME, a Beijing-based game company, will publish and run the game there. Lionheart plans to enter the Chinese market after finishing its local adjustments.

Key facts

Chinese service name: Odin: Shenban
Local publisher: ZLONGAME, based in Beijing
ZLONGAME's games are offered in more than 150 countries
The game won the Grand Prize (President's Award) at the Korea Game Awards in 2021, with 4 awards in total
The game expanded to Taiwan in 2022, Japan in 2023, and worldwide in 2025

About the game

Odin: Valhalla Rising is an open-world MMORPG, a type of online game where many players explore a large virtual world together. It is based on Norse mythology, the old stories of Northern Europe. The game is known for its seamless open world, its graphics, and its large-scale battles.

Why it matters

China is one of the largest game markets in the world, and getting a license there is a big step. The license gives Lionheart a chance to reach many new players. The company says it will work closely with ZLONGAME to deliver a high-quality service.

What to watch

The launch date for the Chinese service
Detailed operating information, which the companies will release later
How the game is adjusted for Chinese players
How well Odin: Shenban performs after launch

Glossary

MMORPG: A online role-playing game where many players share one big virtual world at the same time.
ZLONGAME: A Beijing game company that publishes and runs games in China and in more than 150 countries.

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