For 13 years China has banned their populace from playing games through consoles. For reasons of promotion of violence and lewd content the country decided to nix the idea all together. For the first time in over a decade they are considering overturning this ridiculous law under some strict boundaries that they have laid out. The South China Morning Post (via Spong) reports that the country may lift the ban, but only if foreign companies like Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft manufacture their products in Shanghai’s new free trade zone.The reason this move is being made is to broaden the trade and manufacturing horizons of the country and lift the cost of their currency as well as enabling it to be used in a more wide variety of nations rather than just their own. Government documents explain that if foreign companies register in the new zone, they will be able to sell their products once approval has been received from “culture-related authorities”.
“They still need approval from the culture ministry and other relevant government bodies for their products. An unnamed source told SCMP, “They still need approval from the culture ministry and other relevant government bodies for their products, which I think is reasonable, because the government wants to make sure the content of your games is not too violent or politically sensitive for young people.”

The ban came into effect in June 2000 after seven ministries, led by China’s Ministry of Culture, decided to ban the production and sale of games consoles in China after concerns were raised about unhealthy and violent content in games, and what effect it may have on the country’s youth. All that was allowed was the import of components to be assembled in China, before being exported again.
If the ban is lifted Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will benefit hugely from this because of the ability to sell millions more of their products as well as produce parts and run manufacturing out of China. This also helps China because they will be able to boost the economy with production sales of parts and equipment. Hop on this guys!