China finally lifts ban on the production and distribution of game consoles for both domestic and foreign console manufacturers. The Ministry of Culture of the PRC recently released the Notice of Ministry of Culture on Permitting Domestic and Foreign Enterprises to Participate in Production and Distribution of Video Game Consoles, fully liberating the production and distribution market of the game consoles.

 

As early as June 2000, the State Council approved the Opinions on Implementing Special Program to Improve the Video Game Business Venues, requesting to immediately stop production and sale of the video game consoles, spare parts and components. Later the PSP, video game equipment (also known as the game consoles) and the arcade game equipment were also banned. It was until last January, the ban was lifted for certain companies in the certain area. The State Council announced for the first time to allow foreign companies in Shanghai Free Trade Zone to participate in the production and sale of the game equipment. The announcement was regarded a signal of “lifting ban on the game console”. As a result, Microsoft’s XboxOne and Sony’s PS4 and PSVita could be legally sold in China. According to the notice of the Ministry of Culture, the experience of pilots in Shanghai Free Trade Zone has been promoted nationwide on June 30, 2015.

 

In the notice, the Ministry of Culture encourages and supports companies to develop, produce and sell equipment for the puzzle, education, motion sensing and body shaping video games with indigenous intellectual property and reflecting the national spirit. The game equipment with banned content, safety risks, gambling functions such as coin hopper, score refunding and steel ball refunding are strictly prohibited. The enterprises engaging in production and sale of game equipment can sell its game and entertainment equipment in the domestic market after obtaining the Approval for the Game and Entertainment Equipment Content.

 

The notice also stipulates that the provincial level cultural administrations would be responsible for the inspection and approval of the game and entertainment equipment contents and should make a decision within 20 days upon receiving the application from the enterprises. It is learned that the time has been shortened. Previously the release of XboxOne was postponed in the Chinese market due to the game review time was too long.

 

Source: Excerpts from http://gd.people.com.cn/, July 25, 2015