China granted licenses to foreign video games for the first time in 18 months this Wednesday, December 28, predicting some relaxation in a sector that had been abused by Beijing for some time.
Video games, which represent a major economic windfall in China, were targeted by the authorities last year due to their addictive nature among the youngest. In a context of recovery, the authorities had frozen for nine months any new license, mandatory to market a game in the world’s largest market.
Licensing finally resumed in April, but no foreign video game had previously been able to get valuable sesame. This Wednesday, December 28, 44 foreign games have obtained the green light for their commercialization, reported the press and publications administration. The Japanese Nintendo obtains a license for its game “Pokémon Unite”.
Relaxations in a lucrative sector
The last clearance in China for a foreign game was in June 2021. China typically only gives approval to foreign games a few times a year, as opposed to a monthly practice for local games. At the same time, 84 Chinese games also got clearance.
In November, authorities granted industry heavyweight Tencent its first license in a year and a half. The decision had sent a positive signal to the markets, which saw an easing of the authorities in a very lucrative sector.
The takeover of Beijing was marked in particular by the drastic restrictions placed on players under the age of 18. Their online gaming time is now limited to three hours per week, weighing heavily on the profitability of companies in the industry.
Source: BFM TV
