China’s video game industry received a welcome shot of confidence in February as the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) greenlit 111 new titles for domestic release. This follows approvals for 115 Chinese titles in January and 32 imported games earlier in the month.
This recent wave of approvals comes after a turbulent period for the industry in December, when a proposed regulation aimed at curbing “excessive” gaming sparked a stock rout, wiping billions of dollars off the market value of Chinese gaming companies. The draft regulation was ultimately withdrawn, and a key official involved in overseeing the video game market stepped down.
The February approvals included several highly anticipated titles, most notably “Black Myth: Wukong,” an action role-playing game developed by Hangzhou-based studio Game Science. First announced in 2020, the game’s 13-minute demo garnered significant online buzz for its impressive gameplay and high-quality visuals, leading some to believe it has the potential to become one of China’s first successful AAA titles.
News of “Black Myth: Wukong”‘s approval sent the game trending on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, with users celebrating its release. However, there were also concerns about potential censorship in the domestic version, with some expressing fear of the removal of mythical or gory elements.
While the approval process remains opaque, the recent batch of greenlights, including the highly anticipated “Black Myth: Wukong,” signals a potential thaw in the regulatory landscape and offers a cautiously optimistic outlook for the Chinese video game industry. However, long-term concerns about future regulations and potential censorship within the market remain to be seen.
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