China’s Tencent wins first game licence in 18 months

China’s gaming regulator approves 70 new titles after earlier nine-month freeze on releases.

A logo of Tencent is seen at its booth at the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China
Beijing's approval of 70 new pc sport titles indicators a soothing of China's strict angle in direction of tech corporations [File: Tingshu Wang/Reuters]

China has granted tech big Tencent its first licence for a online game in 18 months, ending a dry spell that had threatened its place because the world’s prime sport maker.

Beijing moved in opposition to the nation’s vibrant gaming sector final 12 months as a part of a sprawling crackdown on huge tech corporations, together with a cap on the period of time kids and youngsters might spend enjoying video games.

Officers additionally froze approvals of recent titles for 9 months till April.

China’s gaming regulator, the Nationwide Press and Publication Administration, on Thursday mentioned it had accepted 70 new titles in November, together with Tencent’s motion sport “Metallic Slug: Awakening” and a role-playing sport “Journey to the West: Return” by rival NetEase.

Gaming licences are obligatory for video video games to be printed and bought within the Chinese language market.

The final time Tencent obtained an enormous license was in Might 2021.

A Tencent subsidiary acquired a licence in September nevertheless it was for a free instructional sport.

Shares of the Hong Kong-listed firm edged up 0.5 % in early commerce on Friday after the licensing announcement, whereas NetEase gained 5 %.

The approval indicators a soothing of China’s strict angle in direction of tech corporations.

Throughout the tech crackdown, tons of of sport makers pledged to clean “politically dangerous” content material from their merchandise and implement curbs on underage gamers in a bid to adjust to authorities calls for.

Strict restrictions introduced final 12 months permit gamers below the age of 18 to play for 3 hours per week.

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