The nationwide ban of video-game consoles – which was imposed back in 2000 in an attempt to protect the younger generations from perceived corrupting influence – has been reversed by China. For the time being, the ruling State Council of China suspended the ban and will allow consoles to be manufactured in the Shanghai free trade zone.
Console manufacturers – including Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft – might be the ones to benefit from the latest development by entering a $10 billion market which is dominated by online and personal computer games. The step was taken by China as computer games have managed to surpass consoles and reach smartphones and the Internet.
Eiji Maeda, an analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo said, “The lifting of the ban is positive for Nintendo and entertainment consumption in China is growing.”
Satoshi Nakajima, a Tokyo-based spokesperson from Sony said that the country’s mainland is an attractive market and the company will seek to expand when there is an opportunity. On the other hand, a spokesperson from Microsoft said that the company is honored to be invited to participate at the Shanghai Free Trade Zone expansion. The spokesperson went on to say that their aim is to deliver a new generation of family entertainment experiences for people in China.
Photo Credits: Tech In Asia
