China isn’t a country that’s exactly famous for its tolerance of foreign media, but according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Culture, it’s officially lifting a 15-year ban on video game consoles following a review of its policies. Considering that China is the world’s second-largest economy on the planet after North America, it means that Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo now have a new, massive market to capitalize on for the first time in over a decade.
The lifting of the ban means that both domestic and foreign companies will be able to manufacture and sell their games consoles within the entirety of the country. The news shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise, though. China have been steadily relaxing their strict laws on the sale of games consoles, having lifted the ban and enabling the manufacture and sale of the devices in Shanghai’s free trade zone back in 2014.
The original ban came into effect back in 2000, over concerns that the sale and use of games consoles, especially by young children, would have an adverse effect on the mental development of minors.
It seems now, though, that the country has had a total change of heart in regards to previous concerns, and in our eyes, that can only be a good thing.
