Gaming
China Lifts Ban On Console Video Games
China is lifting its 15-year ban on foreign and domestic video game consoles to allow devices from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and others into the country. China’s Ministry Of Culture posted a notice to announce that the companies are now allowed to both produce and sell their devices in the country. China originally banned consoles back in 2000 because of the perceived risks to the mental and physical health of children.
Despite the ban, many in China have already had access to video game consoles through various means, such as the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone and grey markets. Still, that access has always been limited and in the absence of consoles, mobile and PC games flooded the market. It’s estimated that China spends $22 billion a year on mobile games and computer games. Now, any console produced in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone will automatically be approved for sale in the rest of the country.
The move is part of an effort by the Chinese government to move the country’s economy to a more sustainable position. They are focusing on promoting entertainment and technology to develop cleaner energy sources and shift the economy overall to be supported by domestic consumption.
“We welcome the move,” Sony said in an email to Associated Press. “We remain committed to deliver fun and exciting console gaming experiences to as many Chinese users as possible.”
The notice from the culture ministry also mentioned that games sold in China would be subject to censorship, much like the bulk of the Chinese media. The new rules are apparently designed to promote the technology sector in a “healthy and progressive” entertainment environment, according to the notice.
Even after having consoles banned for so long, China is actually the world’s third largest video game market. Some are estimating that it could even overtake the US market. Although the potential for video game consoles in China is huge, after 15 years of PC gaming only, the big three console manufacturers may struggle to get a foothold in the country.
The Starbreeze cooperative multiplayer game Project Baxter is expected to follow PAYDAY. The official Dungeons & Dragons logo is on Starbreeze. However, we do not expect the studio to revere RPG settings like Larian did with Baldur’s Gate 3.
Starbreeze will develop and publish Project Baxter in 2026 for all major platforms. The company says it “will carry the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of cooperative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service model, community engagement, and a larger than life experience.”
Forgive the skepticism, but PAYDAY 3, Starbreeze’s latest release, lagged behind due to server issues that the CEO had to apologize for, taking two months to release the heist shooter’s first patch. It’s a disappointing story that may have gone unnoticed in a year with The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, Kong: Rise of Skull Island, and The Walking Dead: Destinies.
Would you like a Starbreeze multiplayer live service D&D game? Is this to capitalize on the setting’s moment between Baldur’s Gate and the surprising good Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves?
Konami promised that free-to-play soccer sim eFootball would add PES’ massively popular Master League mode, but while this month’s v3.20 update will add more solo content, you’ll have to wait. My League lets you play full seasons as a single player with changing weather and exclusive rewards to reduce the wait.
You’ll replace a real team from your league, like England or Italy. The gacha system unlocks players that you’ll use to fight the AI and win the table. Play through the mode as many times as you want, with custom cutscenes and other features to track your progress. It all seems like a way to make dream team gameplay appealing to offline players.
Online play is also getting better. A new tier system will match you with players of similar skill levels, and co-op will soon let you join strangers instead of friends. You can use emojis to discuss your matches’ successes and failures or strategize with new allies.
We assume new cards with perks will allow Konami to create “rarer” versions of players when they perform certain real-life feats. A new login feature will include a penalty-taking minigame where you must score a goal to climb a ladder and unlock in-game rewards like virtual currency. For now, that’s it.
The critically panned game improves, but not as fast as former PES fans would like. The gameplay is good, and there are more things to do, but without that meaty single-player mode, old-school franchise fans will always rank it lower. Konami should revive one of the best solo sports game modes soon.
We expected it to be big, but this big? Only ten hours after Rockstar unceremoniously released GTA 6’s trailer after an unexpected leak, it has over 50 million views. This video is the top trending video on YouTube worldwide, ignoring mirrors from IGN and Gamespot.
Instead of waiting until later today, the developer released the first footage of the latest Grand Theft Auto after a watermarked version leaked on Twitter. The team is understandably upset, but the video’s overwhelming response will reassure it. It has 50 million views and 6.5 million likes.
This could reach 100 million by the end of the day as it’s shared worldwide and fans search for Easter eggs and secrets. How many times have you seen the new trailer?
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