Sony’s PlayStation 4 has finally arrived in China and only becomes the second gaming console to do so after Microsoft’s Xbox One did in September last year.
Since 2000, China has banned video game consoles despite the fact that the current gen gaming consoles like the Wii, the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 are being manufactured in China. It was also around that time that PC gaming was at its height in China.
The country’s ban on gaming consoles was considered by the Chinese government as the best way to protect Chinese youth from wasting their time and minds on video games following an outcry by a huge number of parents all across the nation.
Ironically, it was after the ban on video gaming consoles that online gaming went to its full might worldwide, indicating that the Chinese ban actually did not stop the problem.
It was in June 2000 when the Chinese Ministry of Culture issued a notice preventing any company or individual to produce and sell electronic game equipment and accessories in China.
Lifting of the ban
It was only on January 6, 2014, after nearly 14 years, that the ban of gaming consoles was officially lifted by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
Accordingly, the ban was just temporary but almost 14 years was being viewed by many in the gaming community as too much for temporary. The decision stemmed from the announcement of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone on September 27, 2013, that lifted the ban initially for the Shanghai free trade zone. The January 6 announcement lifted the ban nationwide.
Sony is expected to capitalize on the global strength and popularity of the PlayStation 4 to catch up or overcome the headstart that Microsoft already had for its Xbox One on the Chinese market.
Nintendo, the other Japanese manufacturer of gaming consoles Wii and Wii U, may also be entering the Chinese market soon.
Subject for approval
Upon its entry into China, Sony is only making available six game titles initially for the PlayStation 4.
It turns out that every video game title that shall hit the Chinese market will be subject to the approval of the government, which is actually curtailing Sony’s ambitious plan to establish a huge gamer base in China, notes Tweak Town.
The six game titles that were initially made available to the PlayStation 4 in China are “Mr. Pumpkin’s Adventure,” “Knack,” “Rayman Legends,” “Dynasty Warriors 8,” “Trial Fusion,” and “Age of Wushu.” The high-profile and more popular titles like “Grand Theft Auto V,” “Assassin’s Creed Unity,” “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” among others, have yet to be approved by the Chinese government.
As a result, new PlayStation 4 owners would only be able to enjoy the initial six video game titles and shall not be able to have access just yet to online movies, TV, music, or the other high-profile games that practically the whole gaming world is playing and talking about.