Chinese courts have started recognizing gaming accounts and digital assets as inheritable property, a move that aligns virtual possessions with traditional assets. Several families have successfully sued for the inheritance rights of their deceased relatives’ gaming accounts, with courts acknowledging their monetary value despite platform restrictions.

One of the earliest cases, known as the ‘Golden Sword’ case in 2009, involved a widow attempting to sell a rare in-game item after her husband’s death. The court ruled that the item had market value and could be inherited, though profits were shared due to another player’s involvement. More recently, in 2024, a court recognized Bitcoin, a gaming account worth approximately $30,000, and commercial rights on social media as inheritable assets.

However, personal data such as correspondence remains under platform control and cannot be transferred to heirs. In another case, a court ordered a gaming company to grant a mother access to her deceased son’s accounts, treating them as full-fledged virtual property. These rulings contrast sharply with practices in the US and Europe, where games are typically considered licenses and cannot be transferred as inheritance.