China’s Growing Influence in Global Gaming Industry

"The Defiant" is a first‑person shooter set in 1930s‑1940s China, according to developer Connor Xu. Xu said the weapons and story are unique to Asia and have never been told in a video game before. The game is aimed at an international audience, he added.

China has become a major player in the global gaming industry, DW reported, despite strict regulations, censorship, and a former ban on consoles. The country has more than 700 million regular gamers, most of whom play on PCs and smartphones. Consoles were not officially sold in China between 2000 and 2014 to protect children from addiction.

Minors are allowed to play online games for no more than three hours a week, DW said. Adults face no time limits but must register with a real name and personal ID number, enabling the state to track play and communication. Some players use VPNs to access games not officially available, and younger players sometimes use parents’ accounts to bypass limits.

Chinese tech companies such as Tencent and NetEase have invested in Western gaming companies, DW reported. The Chinese market operates a licensing system that requires a license from the Ministry of Pro, according to DW. George E. Osborn, who spoke at Gamescom, said China has a tightly regulated licensed official video games market.

The licensing rule means developers must go through multiple layers of approval before selling games in China. This system forces developers to comply with state regulations, Osborn told DW. The result is a controlled but influential market that shapes global gaming trends.