By Sagar V. Mankar China’s gaming approval authority, the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), has announced the approval of 119 online games for November, which includes 112 domestic and 7 imported titles. This approval list reflects the country’s continued focus on supporting the gaming industry while selectively allowing foreign titles into the market.
One notable addition among the imported games is NetEase’s Pro Evolution Soccer Online. Developed by Japan’s Konami Digital Entertainment and now branded as eFootball, the game caters to football fans worldwide.
So far in 2024, the NPPA has granted licenses to 1,274 new games, including 1,184 domestic and 90 imported titles. This number has already surpassed last year’s total, signaling a strong recovery for China’s gaming industry.
In October, the NPPA approved 128 games for domestic release, including Goddess of Victory: New Hope, a localized version of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, an anime-inspired role-playing shooting game created by South Korean studio Shift Up.
The recent wave of game approvals coincides with the international success of Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first AAA game. Released in August and developed by Tencent-backed Game Science, the game has set global records. With over 21.5 million units sold on Steam and revenue exceeding $1 billion, according to VG Insights, Black Myth: Wukong has showcased China’s $45 billion gaming industry on the world stage.
The game’s success has also contributed to China’s gaming sector growth. In the third quarter of 2024, revenue rose by 8.95% year-on-year to reach 91.8 billion yuan (approximately $12.9 billion). This growth highlights China’s position as the world’s second-largest video game market by revenue, according to the Gaming Publishing Committee of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association.