China lists new restrictions on video games

With China set to permanently lift its 13-year ban on consoles, the Chinese government has released a list featuring which gaming content will not be allowed in the country.

The banned content is as follows:

Gambling-related content or game features;
Anything that violates China’s constitution;
Anything that threatens China’s national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity;
Anything that harms the nation’s reputation, security, or interests;
Anything that instigates racial/ethnic hatred, or harms ethnic traditions and cultures;
Anything that violates China’s policy on religion by promoting cults or superstitions;
Anything that promotes or incites obscenity, drug use, violence, or gambling;
Anything that harms public ethics or China’s culture and traditions;
Anything that insults, slanders, or violates the rights of others;
Other content that violates the law.

Games must be submitted for approval to the “culture department in charge” – the local Shanghai government culture department – and the approval process will not take longer than 20 days.

New in-game content (DLC, for example) will need to be submitted and go through the same approval process, even if the game itself was already previously approved.

Games that are not approved will be returned with the reason for their rejection clearly stated.

Currently, foreign companies are allowed to produce and sell game consoles in China, although they do have to work with a local partner and operate out of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

Given that your console at home says “Made in China” on the bottom, be glad the restrictions are limited to the Asian country only.

Considering the restrictions list above, I see the Chinese market missing out on a few games in the future.