How do you get a game approved in China?

Publishing a game in China on any platform - whether console, mobile, online, or Steam - first requires a game license from the Chinese government, issued by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), which is now the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA).

How do I launch a game in China?

It's extremely difficult for foreign companies to get a license to publish a video game in China thanks to a number of legal restrictions. The easiest way to accomplish this is to find a partner in China to register and publish your game, as well as handle marketing and distribution in the local market.

How are video games regulated in China?

Most notably, in September 2021, China banned under-18s from playing games for more than three hours a week, a rule that has forced Tencent and its peers to give up targeting youth gamers. Tencent said in November the total time under-18s spent on its games had plunged 92%.

Did China suspend game approval?

The crackdown by China on online gaming had halted the approval process for foreign video games for 18 months between 2021 and 2022.

Are you allowed to play games in China?

Video games are regulated through the government and the Chinese Communist Party as with most mass media in China, but further, as video games are seen as a cultural benefit, additional agencies are involved in promoting the growth of video games.

China Suspends Approval of All New Online Games

Why is China strict about gaming?

The Chinese government's antipathy towards video games goes back to that term used by state media in August: spiritual opium. The term has a long history in China, and has traditionally been used when railing against foreign cultural products.

Why does China limit gaming?

The technology restrictions reflect growing concern over gaming addiction among children. One state media outlet has called online games “spiritual opium,” an allusion to past eras when addiction to the drug was widespread in China.

How long can I game in China?

China has set new rules limiting the amount of time children can play online games. The restrictions limit children to just three hours of online game playing a week. That is one hour between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks.

What will get a game banned in China?

Mainland China. A very large number of video games are banned in mainland China. Games that depict drugs, sexuality, blood, organized crime or defamation of the Chinese government are almost always banned.

Why are game consoles banned in China?

In 2000, China banned the sale and import of videogame consoles as concerns over addiction in teenagers grew. Even with the ban, imported consoles still existed in the grey market targeting a group of loyal players.

Is Roblox allowed in China?

To be clear, Roblox is not officially banned in China, but it is not available for use in the country.

What is the biggest gaming company in China?

The Chinese entertainment tycoon Tencent remains dominant in the mobile gaming arena. In January 2023, Shenzhen Tencent Tianyou Technology Ltd generated around 681 million U.S. dollars of in-app purchase revenue worldwide. Its Chinese rivals NetEase and miHoYo Games followed with a wide margin.

What is the most popular console in China?

The report reveals the Nintendo Switch is the market leader in the console market in China, but the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S were "key drivers of growth" in 2021. The total console hardware and software sales for 2021 were up 17 percent year-over-year to $2.16 billion.

Is online gaming legal in China?

Online gambling in Mainland China remains illegal, however internet traffic routed via VPNs, underground banking networks and payment platforms enable Mainland Chinese customers to access and remit funds to online gaming sites.

Does China allow Nintendo?

With the official release of the Nintendo Switch in China, Nintendo and Tencent are looking to bring in around 10 to 20 new games for players to enjoy by the end of 2020. Chinese gamers have waited long enough for the arrival of the Nintendo Switch, what's another year more to play more games than just this one!

Does China allow eSports?

In 2021, China suspended approvals for new games, a measure that had a severe knock-on effect on esports, as the game companies affected were also the country's biggest esports boosters. The number of young gamers in China dropped by 40 million between 2020 and 2022, according to one report.

Does China allow blood in games?

The display of blood in Chinese game industry is strictly limited, if not banned. Before 2019, blood in many games cannot be red. And in 2019, a new ban prohibits even the presence of any blood. Peacekeeper Elite, a battle royale game developed in China, has no blood or death.

What consoles are banned in China?

GUANGZHOU, China — For 14 years, gaming consoles from the likes of Sony , Microsoft and Nintendo were banned in China. The ban was finally lifted in 2014.

Is it illegal to cheat in video games in China?

In recent years, countries including South Korea and China have criminalized the sale or use of cheats in video games. In South Korea, cheaters could be punished with up to 5 years in jail or fines exceeding $40,000.

What is the 3 hour gaming rule in China?

The regulations restricted playing online video games to 8-9pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays, for a total of 3 hours per week only in that time slot, for all youth under age 18. Niko Partners recognized the immense importance of this “3-hour rule” and built data and analysis around the impact of it.

Is there a 2 hour game limit in China?

China plans to limit kids' video game play time to just three hours a week. Under 2019 rules, people under were allowed to play games for 1½ hours a day on most days. The rules will apply to companies providing online game services to minors, limiting their ability to serve those users outside of designated hours.

Why did China limit screen time?

Beijing justified its tough screen time limits as necessary to combat a genuine social problem: Chinese minors' video gaming addictions. Out of China's 720 million gamers, around 110 million are under 18 years old, Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at gaming research firm Niko Partners, told Fortune last September.

Is fortnite banned in China?

Read more below. Epic Games has pulled the plug on Fortnite in China, the world's largest video gaming market. The move comes following China's ongoing crackdown against online video games that the authorities reportedly consider a waste of time and a bad influence for young kids.

Is there a 1 hour gaming limit in China?

In 2019, authorities restricted minors to playing 90 minutes a day on weekdays and banned them from playing between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. In 2021, they issued even harsher restrictions: Minors are allowed to play online games for only an hour a day and only on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.

Can adults play games in China?

Online gaming in the country is now only available to people younger than 18 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The decree is supported by an “anti-addiction” registry.