China Lifts Ban on Video Game Consoles After 15 Years

It definitely took some time, but after 15 long years, China has finally lifted the ban on video game consoles in the country. What exactly does this mean? For one, companies such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo can now sell and manufacture video game consoles anywhere in the country. Seeing how big of a country China is, this could affect the video game industry in more ways than one.

The ban on video game consoles was placed back in 2000. This was done out of fear that video games will have a negative effect on the physical and mental development of children. While many (especially parents) are of the same opinion today, many studies on video games have proven otherwise. (Just do a quick Google search and you’d know.)

Just last year, China has actually lifted the ban on video game console, but that only applied in an 11-square-mile area in Shanghai known as the “free trade zone.” With this new ruling, the sale and manufacturing of consoles can be done anywhere in China.

As far as how much this will affect the video game industry, it still remains to be seen. After all, it has been 15 long years since video game consoles were legal in China. It might take some time for consumers to warm up to the idea of hooking up a console to their TV again.

(Source: Wall Street Journal via The Verge)

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