By Sagar V. Mankar China has approved 117 video games in August 2024, the highest this year. This surge coincides with the growing popularity of gaming in the country, especially following the success of Black Myth: Wukong.
Notable titles among the newly licensed games include Tencent’s Yirenzhixia, NetEase’s Jiewai Kuangchao, and Alibaba’s Huangyuan Shuguang, according to a report from the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
These approvals were granted by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), the government body responsible for regulating the gaming industry in China. Publishers must obtain NPPA permission to release games in China.
The government had previously imposed strict restrictions due to concerns over game addiction and loot systems, including an eight-month freeze on game approvals in 2022. However, regulations have eased since then, particularly after Wukong’s success boosted confidence in the gaming industry.
In the first eight months of 2024, the NPPA has licensed 850 domestic games, up from 609 in the same period last year. This increase signals a strong recovery in China’s gaming sector.
In addition to domestic games, the NPPA also approved 15 foreign titles for release in China earlier in August. Among these are prominent games like NetEase’s Marvel Snap and Marvel Rivals, Nintendo’s Mario Golf: Super Rush, and Paper Mario: The Origami King. Fans are particularly thrilled about the approval of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV, a game with a vast global fanbase.
In July, the Chinese government had already approved 105 video games, including Tencent’s first-person shooter Arena Breakout: Infinite and miHoYo’s Xingbu Gudi. Notably, Valorant: Operation Primal was also approved well in advance as a mobile title in China. The NPPA’s approval process for foreign games is typically lengthy, prompting many publishers to submit applications well in advance.
Black Myth: Wukong has been a massive hit, selling over 10 million copies in its first three days on PlayStation 5 and Steam. Its release on Xbox Series X and Series S is still pending.
The high demand for Black Myth: Wukong reflects a positive outlook for China’s gaming market, which industry research firm Newzoo predicts will reach $45 billion by the end of the year.