Two South Korean Games Secure Chinese Licenses, Signaling a Potential Shift in Gaming Market
Seoul, October 25, 2024 – Twomobile games developed by South Korean gaming companies, Shift Up’s Goddess of Victory: Nikke and NCSOFT’s Lineage II:Revolution, have received licenses to operate in China. This marks a significant development in the gaming landscape, as it indicates a potential easing of restrictions on foreign game approvalsin the country.
The licenses were granted by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) of China, which announced a new batch of approvals for imported online games on October 25th. The list included 15foreign games, with Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Lineage II: Revolution being the only two South Korean titles.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke, a shooting game, was launched globally in November 2022through Tencent’s overseas publishing brand Level Infinite. Lineage II: Revolution, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), is based on the intellectual property of the popular 2019 game Lineage II.
This development comes after a period of limited approvals for foreign games in China.The NPPA had been particularly strict in granting licenses, with only a handful of foreign games receiving approval in recent years. This recent approval of two South Korean titles suggests a potential shift in the Chinese government’s stance towards foreign games, potentially opening doors for greater market access.
The move could have significant implications forthe South Korean gaming industry, which has been actively seeking to expand its presence in the lucrative Chinese market. The success of these two games could pave the way for other South Korean developers to enter the Chinese market and compete with local game companies.
However, it remains to be seen whether this is a temporary shift or along-term change in policy. The Chinese gaming market is highly competitive, and foreign companies still face challenges in navigating the regulatory landscape. The success of Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Lineage II: Revolution will be closely watched by industry observers as a potential indicator of future trends.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency (2024, October 25). Two South Korean games secure Chinese licenses. Retrieved from [link to Yonhap News Agency article]
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