China Reviewing 13 Year Ban on Videogame Consoles, “Will Need Approval from All Parties”

Somewhere, some publisher is loudly proclaiming "Cha-ching!"

Posted By | On 28th, Jan. 2013

CHINA
If things go well in the next few months (or even years – it is government, after all), then authorities in China just might lift a ban on video game consoles that has been going on for 13 years.

This would also mean opening up the country’s hardware market for major players like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft to pitch their hardwarez.

An unnamed source from the Ministry of Culture recently told the China Daily, “We are reviewing the policy and have conducted some surveys and held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market.

“However, since the ban was issued by seven ministries more than a decade ago, we will need approval from all parties to lift it.”

Why did Chinese ministries ban the sale and import of video game consoles from 2000 onwards? Why, because of the harm it could bring to the physical and mental development of the young. Then again, this is the country that thought Communism was the solution so it can’t be said that this is their first time being wrong.


Keep On Reading!

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – 5 Big PS5 and PS5 Pro Upgrades Revealed

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – 5 Big PS5 and PS5 Pro Upgrades Revealed

Assassin's Creed clearly wants Resynced to be a much-needed win, and looks like PlayStation gamers are getting...

10 Best Games of 2026 So Far

10 Best Games of 2026 So Far

It’s been quite a year, and a busy one for those of us who spend our free time in worlds other than our own....

Watch Dogs 2 Feels More Special Than Ever, 10 Years Later

Watch Dogs 2 Feels More Special Than Ever, 10 Years Later

Ubisoft’s second attempt at a very unique gameplay loop had its flaws, yes, but we believe there was a lot o...

Compulsion Games Confirms Retaining Rights to South of Midnight, We Happy Few After Xbox Split

Compulsion Games Confirms Retaining Rights to South of Midnight, We Happy Few After Xbox Split

"We're grateful for the years we spent with Xbox and for the opportunity to bring these games to players aroun...

State of Decay 3 Could Skip Game Pass, Third-Party Funding Still Lives – Rumor

State of Decay 3 Could Skip Game Pass, Third-Party Funding Still Lives – Rumor

The new owners of Undead Labs and Ninja Theory could also be revealed this year (and as early as this Summer f...

DOOM, The Elder Scrolls Online Studios “Cutting a Significant Number of Staff” – Rumor

DOOM, The Elder Scrolls Online Studios “Cutting a Significant Number of Staff” – Rumor

While id Software and ZeniMax Online Studios aren't shutting down, they're reportedly being hit hard by today'...