Chinese Regulators Approve Valorant and 43 Other Imported Games

The National Press and Publication Administration of China has granted publishing licenses to 44 imported video games, signaling a significant shift in the regulatory environment. This move marks a departure from the restrictive policies that had effectively halted the approval of foreign titles in the region for the previous 18 months. Alongside these imported titles, regulators also authorized 84 domestic games, further suggesting a broader easing of the government’s stringent oversight of the gaming sector.

The approval list includes several high-profile titles, most notably Riot Games’ tactical shooter Valorant, which is expected to bolster the company’s esports presence in the region. Other notable approvals include the Nintendo-backed Pokémon UNITE, Klei Entertainment’s Don’t Starve, and CD Projekt’s Gwent. Of particular significance is the inclusion of games from South Korean publishers such as NCSoft, Netmarble, and Krafton, ending a long-standing moratorium on South Korean gaming imports that had been in place since 2017 due to geopolitical tensions.

This regulatory development provides a critical reprieve for major industry players like Tencent, which has faced financial headwinds and internal pressure regarding the slow pace of domestic approvals. By clearing a path for these international titles, the Chinese government has provided a much-needed catalyst for growth within the domestic gaming market. This policy pivot is viewed as a major milestone for publishers seeking to integrate their global portfolios into the Chinese ecosystem, potentially stabilizing the business outlook for major industry stakeholders.