Rolls-Royce is now part of Tencent’s Mario Kart-like racing game QQ Speed Mobile

Owning a Rolls-Royce is no longer just a dream for gamers in China. To celebrate the second anniversary of QQ Speed Mobile’s open beta, the racing game is letting players drift in virtual luxury cars designed by the iconic British brand.

Players who logged on over the past few days were given the option to download a Rolls-Royce Dawn. Later this week and through the summer, an imaginary model called the “2035 edition Rolls-Royce QEX” will also be available.

Fans seem amused by the opportunity to drive a vehicle that costs upwards of US$300,000 in real life.

“I never dreamed that I would be driving a Rolls-Royce in my life,” said the most-liked comment on a WeChat post from the game.

“Wow, my first time sitting in a Rolls-Royce,” another quipped.

Tencent’s QQ Speed Mobile, known elsewhere as Garena Speed Drifters, is China’s most popular racing game on Android. In May, it ranked tenth among Android games with the most monthly active users in China, according to gaming and e-sports research firm Newzoo. There’s also a PC version that’s become a favourite in Chinese internet cafes.

QQ Speed, which features colourful vehicles and cartoonish tracks, has sometimes been compared to Nintendo’s long-running Mario Kart series. The latter has also teamed up with a luxury car brand before.

Several Mercedes-Benz models were introduced in Mario Kart 8 in 2014. In an interesting role reversal, five years later Mercedes owner Daimler installed an open source Mario Kart-like game on a Mercedes-Benz CLA on display at Mobile World Congress. Players controlled the virtual cars with the real Mercedes steering wheel and pedals.