The Shanghai government recently released a new policy document titled Measures to Promote the High-Quality Development of the Software and Information Services Industry. One notable provision outlines a pilot program under which games developed by foreign companies in Shanghai may be treated as domestic titles for regulatory purposes. The policy may significantly shorten the approval timeline for foreign games entering the Chinese market and is intended to position Shanghai as a global hub for gaming innovation. It could allow international game giants such as Ubisoft and Blizzard to bypass the lengthy import approval process. China’s game licensing system, administered by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), requires all games to undergo content reviews and obtain a license before they can be legally published and operated in the country. In 2024, the NPPA issued 1,416 game licenses, of which 1,306 were for domestically developed games and 110 were for imported (foreign-developed) titles. [Shanghai government announcement, in Chinese]
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