China has approved over 1,400 video game titles in 2024, marking the highest number of licensed games since 2019. The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), the body in charge of licensing video games in the country, revealed the latest batch of approvals on December 19. This announcement highlighted a significant rebound for the gaming industry following regulatory challenges in recent years.
Over 130 games were approved in December alone
The December approvals included 122 domestic titles and 13 imported games. Among the standout domestic titles is Ananta, an open-world role-playing game by NetEase. The foreign titles featured notable games such as Uncharted Waters: Legend, operated by Suzhou Yinghuo Information Technology under Alibaba Group’s Lingxi Games, and Red Alert: Glory, published by Tencent Holdings-backed Shanghai Yorha Technology.
1,306 domestic games and 110 foreign titles were approved in 2024. This is a noticeable increase from the 977 local games and 98 imported ones licensed in 2023. The numbers also demonstrate a remarkable improvement compared to 2022, which only approved 468 domestic and 44 foreign titles.
Regulatory hurdles give way to recovery
China’s gaming industry faced significant challenges in 2021 when an eight-month freeze on game licences was imposed as part of a regulatory crackdown. Strict measures also limited gaming time for under-18s to just one hour a day on Fridays, weekends, and statutory holidays. Despite these challenges, the industry has bounced back, with 2024 becoming a landmark year.
The resurgence can also be seen in the performance of games like Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first AAA game. Launched in August, it sold over 10 million copies within four days and won accolades at The Game Awards in Los Angeles, including Best Action Game and Players’ Voice awards.
Sales and global impact
The gaming industry in China, the world’s second-largest gaming market, saw total sales increase by 7.5% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 325.8 billion yuan (US$44.6 billion). The number of gamers in the country grew slightly, with a 1% rise to 674 million players.
Chinese developers also made a strong impact internationally, earning US$18.6 billion from overseas markets in 2024, up 13.4% from the previous year. These figures reflect the growing global influence of Chinese gaming companies and their ability to expand beyond the domestic market.
With a solid recovery underway, 2024 has become a significant milestone for China’s gaming sector, paving the way for further growth in the years ahead.
