China approves 45 video games after a nine-month hiatus

The Chinese authority has granted new video game licenses for the first time since July 2021. However, none of the approved titles were from leading Chinese companies such as Tencent.

According to China's National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), there were a total of 45 approved titles from companies such as Seasun Entertainment, Lilith Games and XD on the list. All titles were approved on 8 April and the news was announced just three days later on NPPA's site. China hasn't approved video game licenses for about nine months. In July 2021, NPPA approved a total of 87 titles and suspended approvals for new games afterwards. The Chinese government did not offer any reason for the decision, or even did not announce an official acknowledgment.

The latest approval marked the end of the nine-month suspension of game approval. In 2018, the Chinese authorities also stopped approving new video game titles over a nine-month period. Reuters reported that it was part of an overhaul of the regulatory bodies overseeing the sector.

The gaming industry in China has been heavily hit by regulations since last year. In January, Tencent announced that it limited the number of hours gamers in China under the age of 18 can play. These enthusiasts could play for up to 14 hours during their winter holiday, as it adhered to the Chinese government's rules to curb gaming addiction among teenagers. Last year China announced that it would be forbidding those under the age of 18 from playing video games for more than three hours a week.

Multiple reports, including the South China Morning Post and The Standard, said Tencent had marked 14 days, including weekends and Chinese New Year, when gamers aged under 18 can only play one hour each day. The limitation was based on the National Press and Publication Administration's mandate issued in August 2021, which outlined rules to combat addiction among minors in the country.

Gamers aged under 18 can only play between 8pm and 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays. SCMP quoted a post on Tencent's WeChat account, which warned minors "stealing their family members' identifications to bypass the restrictions would initiate the facial recognition process for logins." The company also reminded parents they could switch on the youth mode, allowing them to protect minors from gaming addiction and inappropriate short videos.

Tencents' founder, chairman and chief executive Ma Huateng previously said the company is determined not to cross any lines, in addition to its commitment to act as a connector and assistant for China.

(Photo courtesy: 123rf)

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