Crazyracing Kartrider Mobile has launched the P1 League as a substitute for the K1 League.
The first match was held on October 29th and the league will last for three months. 16 teams will compete – including LGD Gaming, Newbee Esports Club, and Wolves Esports – for 1.25 million RMB (£140,000).
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Produced by South Korean game publisher Nexon, Crazyracing Kartrider is considered as one of the most popular racing games in Korea. In 2006, the game was introduced to China with the name PopKart and it became a hit in the online racing game market.
However, due to the many iterations of esports titles and an accused lack of innovation, the number of players in Crazyracing Kartrider has been decreasing in recent years and the game publisher has closed servers in U.S., Japan, Russia, and Southeast Asia. To reinvigorate the popularity Crazyracing Kartrider and build yet another new business in the esports market, Tencent partnered with Nexon to launch Crazyracing Kartrider Mobile in China on July 2nd. Following the announcement of the mobile version, over 20 million players have completed pre-registration.
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Besides launching the mobile version of Crazyracing Kartrider, Tencent has also announced a partnership with China Esports Racing Championship (CERC) to further popularize the game and integrate esports with racing culture.
Esports Insider says: The mobile version of Crazyracing Kartrider is following the development trend of the Chinese esports market and it is believed to prove profitable for Tencent. The mobile game not only reactivates the brand but also looks to attract a new demographic. With the launch of the P1 League, more and more players are expected to rediscover the game and return to experience the joy from their childhood.
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