China Approves 117 Video Games in August

China Approves 117 Video Games in August
Photo: freepik.com 02.09.2024 440

In all, a total of 850 games from Chinese companies have been approved since the beginning of the year. 

In August, the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) approved 117 video games – the biggest batch of titles licensed so far this year.

Tencent Holdings’ action game Yirenzhixia, NetEase-operated Jiewai Kuangchao and Huangyuan Shuguang from Alibaba Group Holding subsidiary Lingxi Games were among the latest titles to get licensed for domestic release, according to a statement released on last Friday by NPPA.

The NPPA has licensed a total of 850 domestic titles in the first eight months of this year, compared with 609 in the same period in 2023.

The large number of titles approved in August reflects the significant recovery in China’s video gaming market since April 2022, when Beijing resumed licensing titles for the domestic market after an eight-month regulatory freeze.

The increased pace of approvals also comes amid the resounding success of action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong – developed by Tencent-backed studio Game Science and based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West – which is a huge hit for both domestic and overseas gamers.

Black Myth: Wukong – available on Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation 5 console and Windows-based personal computers, as well as digital gaming service Steam – sold more than 10 million copies in the first three days of its release, according to data from Game Science. The release of Black Myth: Wukong for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S consoles is yet to be announced.

That strong demand for the game augurs well for the prospect of consumer spending in China’s video gaming market this year, which industry research firm Newzoo has projected to reach US$45 billion.

Source: SCMP

digital markets  China 

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