Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
China Temporarily Lifts Ban On Foreign Video Game Consoles
A 14-year ban on the production and sale of foreign video game consoles in China has temporarily been lifted. This means than Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are now able to sell its consoles in China, but only with government approval.
Video game consoles were banned in the country in 2000, citing the negative effects video games were having on youth culture, but as a result people just played video games on their PCs. The console ban didn't prevent players from playing video games, it just forced them to relocate. Early last year, it appeared the government was considering lifting the ban, and in the beginning of 2014, the rumor has finally met fruition.
It's unclear exactly how long the lifted ban will last.
Our Take
China is a huge market for video games, but it is one Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have been legally prohibited from entering for more than a decade. Sales numbers for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have been impressive, and moving into China could give them an even stronger boost. The Wii U has been struggling, comparatively, and I'm curious if China could prove to be lucrative for Nintendo. We don't know if those three will attempt to enter the Chinese market. There's opportunity there, but China is also notorious for pirated hardware and software, which I am sure is a concern. To entirely ignore China, however, seems like it would be a huge missed opportunity.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
