In brief: Party propaganda department takes over games licensing in China

Via South China Morning Post:

The Chinese government is giving the Communist Party propaganda department the power to license online games as it seeks greater control of the country’s gaming market – but the revamp is resulting in huge losses for its game developers.

The centralising of game approval at a single bureau is confirmed for the first time in a document published last week on the website of China’s education ministry.

Regulatory approvals of new games have been suspended since March 2018 as Chinese government departments undergo a extensive restructuring program, leading to chaos in the country’s massive games industry.

A government source told the Post that it could be another six months before license approvals are back up and running at the previous tack.

China’s online gaming industry has faced increasing scrutiny from government regulators concerned about so-called “inappropriate” content, and it now appears the ruling Communist Party’s central propaganda organ will have primary oversight of the sector.

Tencent recently pulled its blockbuster title “Monster Hunter: World” from its WeGame platform after it reported receiving “numerous” complaints about its content.