China Lifts Ban On Video Game Consoles

In the year 2000 China imposed a blanket ban on video game consoles which meant that for companies like Microsoft and Sony a huge market was closed off, though last year the company relaxed the restrictions slightly to allow consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to be launched in the country. According to a new report out of China the country has decided to do away with the ban on video game consoles completely.

The Wall Street Journal reports that China has removed the ban on video game consoles which means that they can now be manufactured and sold across the People’s Republic.

Last year China relaxed the ban to allow console sales in an 11-mile trade zone surrounding Shanghai, but console makers had to comply with all sorts of restrictions which included building manufacturing facilities locally. Those restrictions will no longer be imposed.

Earlier this year in February China reached out to its local governments for proposals regarding the sale of gaming consoles, it was a long process but it has given results that Chinese gamers would surely appreciate.

As previously mentioned the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are already available in the country, as is the PlayStation Vita. Nintendo has said that it’s interested in bringing its console to China but has so far not disclosed its plans.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Gaming
Tags: China, PlayStation 4, Xbox One